Editing Thameslink (section)

==Thameslink Programme==
{{main|Thameslink Programme}}
[[File:Stpancrasthameslink.jpg|thumb|St Pancras International Thameslink platforms opened in 2007]]
[[File:Blackfriars station MMB 19.jpg|thumb|[[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] new cross-river platforms]]
Given the network's success, realised plans arose to upgrade the network to cope with persistent peak-time overcrowding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1326.aspx |author=Network Rail |author-link=Network Rail |access-date=18 October 2006 |title=Thameslink Programme}}</ref> Network Rail obtained planning permission and legal powers in 2006,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |date=18 October 2006 |access-date=16 June 2011 |title=The £3.5bn Thameslink Project clears major hurdle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304113209/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2408&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2 |archive-date=4 March 2007}}</ref> funding was secured in July 2007<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Coward |first=Andy|title= Cross-river rail to boost Capital | magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue=572 |date= 15 August 2007 |pages=40–43|location=Peterborough}}</ref> and construction began in October 2007.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7059432.stm |title=Work begins on Thameslink project |work=BBC News |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref> Plans included rebuilding the station buildings at Farringdon (in conjunction with the [[Crossrail]] project) and West Hampstead Thameslink, total rebuild of [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]] stations, two new underground platforms at St Pancras International, a new tunnel north of St Pancras International to the [[East Coast Main Line]] to allow through services to Peterborough and Cambridge, and platform lengthening. A new 8- and 12-carriage fleet of Class 700 trains began in 2016. The new services on to the [[Great Northern route]] began initially on 8 March 2018,<ref>{{cite news|title=First direct trains from Cambridge to Brighton via central London launch|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=8 March 2018|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/first-direct-trains-from-cambridge-to-brighton-via-central-london-launch-a3785091.html|access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> with the full timetable being introduced in May 2018.

The London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy published in July 2011 laid out a provisional 24{{tooltip|tph|trains per hour}} timetable. South of London it would provide four trains to Brighton (one semi-fast, one stopping) and two each to Three Bridges, Horsham, East Grinstead, Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford International, Maidstone East, Sevenoaks and Bellingham. North of London there would be eight semi-fast trains to Bedford, four stopping trains to St Albans, two stopping and two semi-fast trains to Luton, two semi-fast trains to Peterborough, two semi-fast trains to Cambridge and four stopping trains to Welwyn Garden City.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/rus%20generation%202/london%20and%20south%20east/london%20and%20south%20east%20route%20utilisation%20strategy.pdf |title=London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213164156/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/rus%20generation%202/london%20and%20south%20east/london%20and%20south%20east%20route%20utilisation%20strategy.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2013 |page=72 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Below is a provisional timetable solely for services running through the 'Thameslink core' tunnel. This 'provisional timetable' was proposed before the upgrade and has not yet been achieved. See Services section above for the current service pattern.
{{#section:Thameslink Programme|provisional-timetable}}