Cambridge to Gatwick gets closer

The long-awaited rail link between Brighton, Gatwick Airport and Cambridge is getting nearer with an actual 2018 service date to be announced.

Train firm Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is seeking passengers’ views on the biggest timetable shake-up in decades.

In 2018, services across the Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express routes will be completely recast with many new connections between communities in Surrey and Kent to stations in the heart of London and beyond, to Bedford, Peterborough and Cambridge.

There will be greater reliability on Southern inner London services, new Thameslink services via London Bridge from Kent stations such as Maidstone East, Greenwich and Dartford, and a massive increase in Thameslink trains at London Bridge.  There will be 80% more peak time seats between Blackfriars and St Pancras International across central London and 19% (1,000) extra seats through longer Thameslink trains from Brighton.

Key to the improvement is a new connection/tunnel at Kings Cross/St Pancras with the Peterborough/Cambridge line linking to the Bedford services via Blackfriars and beyond.  New rolling stock and a Crossrail connection at Farringdon will play their part.

The consultation runs until 8 December and GTR teams are visiting stations across the network to raise awareness and ensure as many people as possible have an opportunity to respond.

www.thameslinkrailway.com/your-journey/timetable-consultation

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