Railwatch is the quarterly magazine of Railfuture, which is free to members.
Non-members can subscribe to Railwatch, receiving it by post.
SubscribeA new rail station straddling the River Thames in London is just one aspect of the ambitious Thameslink 2000 scheme which has been stalled for five years, waiting for the privatisation process.
Design options for Blackfriars station are still being evaluated but it could well have an impressive roof. It is also expected to have both through tracks and bay platforms which could handle 12-car trains.
The platforms will span the river with an entrance on both sides. It will give easy access to Bankside, where the new Tate Gallery of Modern Art is being constructed inside the shell of the old Bankside power station, as well as to the new Globe Theatre nearby.
Eight-car Thameslink trains already run across Blackfriars Bridge from Bedford and Luton to Gatwick and Brighton. But the £580 million Thameslink 2000 project will expand an already highly successful service.
Trains would be able to run to Peterborough and King's Lynn as well as Guidlford, Littlehampton, Eastbourne, Ashford and Dartford.
Railtrack says it is aiming to increase capacity by making "cost-effectice improvements to London's existing railway infrastructure". Such phrases are music to the ears of RDS members. Much of the work for Thameslink 2000 will be concentrated in the Borough Market area which can trace its origins back to the 13th century. The aim will be to double rail capacity at this point.
There will also be a new station at St Pancras, a remodelled Faringdon and a new four-track flyunder near Millwall football stadium. The aim is to start work in the year 2000 with trains running by 2004.
Similar cross-city links, have been created and developed in several cities but most successfully by Paris. There are also plans for a £500 million cross-city tunnel in Glasgow, linking Central and Queen Street stations.
One benefit would be to allow West Coast main line trains to continue north. Another would be better links to Glasgow airport.
An alternative £80 million CrossRail project would put in new links between existing tracks to provide through connections.
Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.
[Railwatch Home] [Prev Issue (73)] [Railwatch Issues] [RIS Progress Reports] [SRUBLUK Progress Reports] [Next Issue (75)] [Railfuture Home]
Rail users are encouraged to join Railfuture to help us campaign for a bigger and better railway - membership for individuals is just £20 per year
Railfuture is an independent, voluntary group representing rail users in Britain with 20,000 affiliated and individual members. It is not funded by train companies, political parties or trade unions, and all members have an equal say.
Railfuture campaigns for cheap and convenient rail services for everyone; better links for buses, bikes and pedestrians; policies to get more heavy lorries on to rail; new lines, stations and freight terminals. In short, a better rail service and a bigger rail system for both passengers and freight.
Railfuture is pro-rail but not anti-road or anti-air. However, we campaign for a switch from road and air to rail. We do not interfere in the running of the railway - we campaign for the quality and range of services provided, not how they are delivered. We are the only champion of all rail users.
Railfuture is the campaigning name of Railfuture Ltd.
A not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee.
Registered in England and Wales No. 05011634.
Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 Bellevue Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only).
All other correspondence to 14 Ghent Field Circle, Thurston, Suffolk IP31 3UP
© Copyright Railfuture Ltd 2024.
Railfuture is happy for extracts to be used by journalists, researchers and students. We would, however, appreciate a mention of Railfuture in any article, website or programme. Except with Railfuture's express written permission, no one should distribute or commercially exploit the content.
Privacy Statement
Click Privacy to read Railfuture's GDPR statement on how we treat your data.08.03.2024
This site does not use its own cookies, although Google Analytics does. Hosted by TSO Host (cPanel) and maintained for Railfuture by Billing Specialists Ltd.