Major engineering work affecting the Thameslink network from Saturday 21 December until Sunday 29 December 

Route(s) affected

Between Bedford and London St Pancras Interational / Gatwick Airport / East Grinstead / Three Bridges / Horsham / Haywards Heath / Brighton, between Bedford and Rainham, between Flitwick and Three Bridges, between Luton / St Albans City and Gillingham (Kent), between Luton and Sutton (London) / Gatwick Airport / Orpington / Rainham, and also between St Albans City and London Blackfriars / Sutton (London)

Description

Major engineering work is taking place across the Thameslink network during the festive period, closing various lines.

For a 9 day period over Christmas 2024, from Saturday 21 December until Sunday 29 December, no trains will run between Harpenden and London stations. Background information on this major work can be found on the Network Rail website.

(East Midlands Railway services between Bedford and London St Pancras International are also significantly impacted by this 9 day line closure - more details on our EMR engineering page).

The following Thameslink service amendments will apply.

Saturday 21 December until Tuesday 24 December:

The following amendments will apply each day, unless stated.

• An amended service will run between Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway / Harpenden. If you are travelling to / from London stations you should use replacement bus services between Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin to connect to trains between Hitchin and London stations (you can use your ticket on Great Northern and Thameslink services)

• No Thameslink trains will run to / from Sutton via Mitcham Junction / Wimbledon. Paper tickets will be accepted on London Buses and Southern services to complete your journey

• An amended service will run between London Bridge and Brighton

• An amended service will run between Cambridge and Brighton

• An amended service will run between London Bridge and Rainham

• Services between Peterborough and Horsham will call additionally at Norwood Junction, Purley, Earlswood and Salford. Trains heading North from Horsham will depart earlier than usual

• On Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December - An amended service will run between London Bridge and Sevenoaks

• On Sunday 22 December - An amended service will run between Peterborough / Cambridge and London Kings Cross

• On Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 December - An amended service will run between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks

• On Tuesday 24 December - Thameslink services will close down earlier than normal on Christmas Eve, with no trains or replacement buses running after 21:00

Wednesday 25 December and Thursday 26 December:

No Thameslink train or replacement bus services will run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Friday 27 to Sunday 29 December:

The following amendments will apply.

• An amended service will run between Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway / Harpenden. If you are travelling to / from London stations you should use replacement bus services between Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin to connect to trains between Hitchin and London stations (you can use your ticket on Great Northern and Thameslink services)

• No Thameslink trains will run to / from Sutton via Mitcham Junction. Paper tickets will be accepted on London Buses and Southern services to complete your journey

• An amended service will run between London Bridge and Horsham / Brighton

• An amended service will run between London Bridge and Rainham

• An amended service will run between Royston and London Kings Cross

• An amended service will run between Peterborough and London Kings Cross

• An amended service will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks

Replacement Bus Services:

Replacement bus services will run between:

• Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin

• Harpenden and Potters Bar via St Albans City

• Harpenden and London St Pancras International, calling at all stations except Kentish Town. If you are travelling to / from Kentish Town you should use London Bus services to complete your journey

• Bedford and Milton Keynes Central, provided by East Midlands Railway

Ticket Acceptance:

Your tickets will also be accepted on the following services:

• Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services between Milton Keynes Central and London Euston

• London Northwestern Railway services between St Albans Abbey and London Euston via Watford Junction

• London Underground services between Stanmore and London Bridge, between Edgware / High Barnet / Mill Hill East and Kings Cross St Pancras, and between Finchley Road and Farringdon (paper tickets only). London Bus services between West Hampstead Thameslink and London St Pancras International (paper tickets only)

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey from 21 to 27 December using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

You can plan your journey on London Buses and London Underground services by using the Transport for London Journey Planner

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility information, please use our travel information pages.

You can find the location of your replacement bus by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.