View source for Thameslink (train operating company, 1997–2006)

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{About|the former train operating company|other uses of the name|Thameslink (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Thames Trains|Govia Thameslink Railway}}
{{Infobox rail company
| name = Thameslink
| logo = ThameslinkLogo.svg
| logo_size = 300px
|image= Class 319 DC Unit - Thameslink livery - East Croydon railway station - England - 270404.jpg
|image_size= 300px
|franchise= [[Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern|Thameslink]]<br>{{start and end date|1997|3|2|2006|3|31|df=y}}
|nameforarea= station
|regions= [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]], [[King's Cross Thameslink railway station|King's Cross]],<br>[[Brighton]]
|secregions= [[Luton Airport Parkway railway station|Luton Airport]], [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]],<br>[[London Bridge station|London Bridge]], [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]],<br>[[Wimbledon station|Wimbledon]]
|fleet= 74 [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]]
|stations= 56 (26 operated)
|parent_company= [[Govia]] ([[Go-Ahead Group|Go-Ahead]]/[[Keolis]])
|abbr= TR
|gauge       = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
|el              = 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct Current|DC]] [[third rail]] (South of Farringdon)<br> 25 [[Volt|kV]] 50 [[Hertz|Hz]] [[Alternating Current|AC]] Overhead (North of City Thameslink)
|predecessor= [[Network SouthEast]]
|successor= [[First Capital Connect]]}}
'''Thameslink'''<ref>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/03013232 Companies House extract company no 3013232] Thameslink Rail Limited</ref> was a [[train operating company]] in the United Kingdom owned by [[Govia]] that operated the Thameslink franchise between March 1997 and March 2006.
The franchise was originally due to end on 31 March 2004, however a two-year extension was awarded to Govia by the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] on 13 February 2004.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040422173122/http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/2/extensions_130204 |archive-date = 22 April 2004 |url = http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2004/2/extensions_130204 |title = Franchising Program Continues Apace |publisher = Strategic Rail Authority |date = 13 February 2004}}</ref> In December 2005, the [[Department for Transport]] awarded the new franchise to [[FirstGroup]]; thus the services operated by Thameslink were transferred to [[First Capital Connect]] on 1 April 2006.
==Services==
Thameslink operated passenger services from [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] via the [[Thameslink (route)|Thameslink route]] to [[Moorgate station|London Moorgate]], [[Sutton railway station (London)|Sutton]], [[Wimbledon railway station|Wimbledon]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]].
==Rolling stock==
Thameslink inherited a fleet of 66 [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319s]] from [[Network SouthEast]].
During 2002, Thameslink hired two [[British Rail Class 317|Class 317s]] from [[West Anglia Great Northern]] for services to [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]]. Thameslink received some extra Class 319s from [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] in 2004.
Between September 2004 and May 2005, Class 317s were hired from West Anglia Great Northern to operate [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] to [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]] services while the Thameslink line was severed for six months for the new St Pancras station to be built.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= |magazine= Rail Magazine |issue= 448  |date= 26 May 2004 |page= 46}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}}
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Built
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
!mph
!km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 317|317]]
|[[File:317305 at Cambridge.jpg|100px]]
|[[electric multiple unit]]
|100
|160
|7
|1981–1982
|-
|rowspan=2|[[British Rail Class 319|319]]
|rowspan=2|[[File:Class 319 Thameslink train Luton Airport Parkway.JPG|100px]]
|[[electric multiple unit]]
|100
|160
|74
|1987–1988, 1990
|-
|colspan=5|[[File:Class 319 Thameslink Original Diagram.png|600px|centre]]
[[File:Class 319 Thameslink Later Livery Diagram.png|600px|centre]]
|}
==Depots==
Thameslink's fleet was originally maintained at [[Selhurst Train and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Selhurst]] Depot under sub-contract by [[Connex South Central]]/[[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title= |magazine= Rail |issue= 443 |date= 4 September 2002 |page= 38}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}} With the Thameslink line to be severed for six months, [[Bedford Cauldwell depot]] was built in 2004. It progressively took over all work from Selhurst.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://tre.truth.posiweb.net/FeaturedArticles/railengineer/view/48 |title = Cauldwell: Success born from dereliction |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111020225/http://tre.truth.posiweb.net/FeaturedArticles/railengineer/view/48 |archive-date=11 November 2013 |publisher = The Rail Engineer |date = April 2009}}</ref>
==Demise==
[[File:South Merton railway station, London (geograph 3292660).jpg|thumb|Original Thameslink signage is still visible on the Sutton Loop Line.]]
In April 2005, the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] announced the parties shortlisted to bid for the new Thameslink Great Northern franchise; Govia was not shortlisted.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050407061424/http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/4/GW_TL_GN |archive-date = 7 April 2005 |url = http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/4/GW_TL_GN |title = Pre-qualified Bidders for Two New Passenger Franchises were announced by the SRA today |publisher = Strategic Rail Authority |date = 1 April 2005}}</ref> In December 2005, the [[Department for Transport]] awarded the new franchise to [[FirstGroup]]. Accordingly, the services that were operated by Thameslink were transferred to [[First Capital Connect]] on 1 April 2006.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070310142714/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |archive-date = 10 March 2007 |url = http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |title = Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 13 December 2005}}</ref> However, it was announced in May 2014 that Govia had reclaimed the Thameslink franchise, which started on 14 September 2014, thus ending the First Capital Connect franchise. Govia now operates Thameslink under [[Govia Thameslink Railway]].
==See also==
* [[Thameslink (route)]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{commonscat-inline|Thameslink (train operating company)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050330013705/http://www.thameslink.co.uk/ Internet archive of official site] as at 30 March 2005
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Network SouthEast]]<br>As part of [[British Rail]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Operator of Thameslink franchise
|years=1997–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[First Capital Connect]]<br>Thameslink and Great Northern franchise}}
{{s-end}}
{{Govia}}
{{Keolis}}
{{UK TOCs|defunct|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thameslink (train operating company 1997-2006)}}
[[Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Go-Ahead Group companies]]
[[Category:Keolis]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Railway operators in London]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Thameslink]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1997]]