Network Rail: "St Albans will soon have 12-carriage trains" (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Network Rail: "St Albans will soon have 12-carriage trains"

10:38am Monday 8th February 2010

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THE delay in the Thameslink rail improvement programme will affect the final phase only and 12-carriage trains could be serving St Albans in less than two years, Network Rail is insisting.

After a hint from rail minister Chris Mole in a Parliamentary debate on Wednesday, the Department of Transport confirmed on Friday the project could not be completed until December 2016, a year later than originally proposed.

But Gary Gaskarth of Network Rail told the Review this morning: "Chris Mole's announcement related to the third stage - the remodelling and reconstruction of London Bridge.

"The first stage of the Thameslink programme has already been delivered on time in March 2009.

"The second milestone, which is the one which will bring the most significant benefits for passengers from St Albans, is on schedule.

"It will enable 12-car trains to run through the Thameslink core from St Pancras to Blackfriars from 2011."

He said the second phase of the project, involving the complete reconstruction of Blackfriars station with a new entrance south of the Thames and alterations to Faringdon, was on schedule for completion in December 2011.

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