New Thameslink trains must go beyond Blackfriars
November 30, 2008 10:17 PM
News that new carriages will be introduced on the Thameslink between Brighton and Bedford will come as cold comfort to passengers in Streatham, according to the area's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman, Chris Nicholson.
Network Rail has put a contract out to tender for 1200 new carriages, a net increase of 400 carriages, to replace those presently running on the First Capital Connect line, in a victory for campaigners against overcrowding on the service. Last year a survey showed that the Thameslink service from Streatham to central London was one of the ten most overcrowded services in the country.
Yet Ministers refuse to protect direct trains from the Wimbledon 'loop' through Streatham and on to Bedford, which are due to come to an end in 2015. The plan to terminate services from Streatham at Blackfriars station, which will end the town's direct link to St Pancras International and to Luton Airport, has met vociferous opposition from commuters and local Liberal Democrat campaigners.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Streatham, Chris Nicholson said:
"Increased capacity on the line is good news for commuters who have suffered from overcrowding for far too long.
"Yet passengers from Streatham will then see their well-used and valued service to central London, St Pancras, Luton Airport and Bedford fall under the Labour Government's axe.
"What is the point of longer trains if they don't go where passengers want them to go?
"The service was introduced in 1988 to link South London with the centre and with destinations beyond the M1.
"Just when we should be getting people out of their cars and on to the railways, the Government has decided to travel in the opposite direction.
"These new carriages should serve Streatham and take passengers beyond Blackfriars up the full length of the Thameslink line."
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