Thameslink and Network Rail are reminding people that their line through central London will be closed for 6 days between the 25th and Sunday 29th December.

Thameslink trains will not run between St. Pancras International and Herne Hill as the track between London Blackfriars through City Thameslink to Farringdon is replaced.

This part of the Thameslink system is the most heavily used section on the Thameslink network as trains that start north or south of the capital use this route to travel across London, with trains at peak times running every 3-5 minutes between London Blackfriars and London St Pancras, which has caused excessive wear on the existing rails.

Passengers that use Thameslink trains that still want to travel to London for post-Christmas shopping in the sales are reminded that from Tuesday 25th to Sunday 29th December:

• There will be no Thameslink train services on Tuesday 25th December and Wednesday 26th December.

On Friday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th December, some Thameslink services will run to amended routes and timetables.

• One train an hour will run between London Bridge and Three Bridges.
• One train an hour will run between London Bridge and Rainham. 
• One train an hour will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks via Swanley.
• Two trains an hour will run between London Bridge and Brighton.
• Trains from St Albans City to Sutton via Mitcham Junction/Wimbledon, and trains from Bedford or Luton to Three Bridges will not run.

For Thameslink passengers that commute in from north London, engineering works on the Midland Main Line will be undertaken from Saturday 21 December until Sunday 29 January.

• No Thameslink Trains will run between St Pancras and Harpenden from Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 December.
• Trains from Harpenden to Luton will run from Saturday 21 to Monday 24 December and from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th December. Train services will finish at 20:30 on Monday 24 December.
• Thameslink services will resume as normal from Monday 30th December, with some minor disruption lasting until Sunday 5 January.

This will mean that rail replacement bus services will be in operation on most routes and will be exceptionally busy.

For passengers requiring flights from Gatwick or Luton Airports, Thameslink services to both Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport Parkway will also be affected and will see limited train services or a replacement bus to and from Luton Airport Parkway.

Passengers are reminded to check their journeys using online journey planners before they travel over the festive season, especially as some of these planned engineering works start before Christmas.

“The rails between St Pancras International and Blackfriars were installed in 2011, and after 13 years and thousands of trains passing over the track, the rails are worn and need replacing with brand new rail to prevent faults delaying passenger journeys.

With the railway closed anyway on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, engineers will get a head start on the work ready for this crucial route to reopen.”

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex Route director