AN ambitious project to improve the Thameslink line connecting St Albans to London could be pushed back a year.

Under secretary of State for Transport Chris Mole suggested in a report to the House of Commons that works along the route at London Bridge may not be completed until December 2016 - a year behind schedule.

St Albans MP Anne Main said: “We know only too well how much we need improvements on the Thameslink route, and now the Thameslink project has apparently been pushed back another year, and the only announcement we got was a couple of lines in a debate.

"This project was originally proposed in 1991 and known as Thameslink 2000 because that was when it was due to be completed. It is high time we saw some results.

"During yesterday’s Business Questions I made a formal plea to the Leader of the House to call Rail Ministers back to Parliament to give us a statement on this delay. It is not good enough for the Minister to just try and slip it into a debate, and not give us time for proper Parliamentary scrutiny. I know that passengers will be as keen as I am to try to get answers on another year’s delay.”