Thameslink

Thameslink is a 24-hour, 115 station main line route that runs from Bedford, Luton, Peterborough and Cambridge via Greater London into Sutton, Sevenoaks, Horsham and Brighton. Additional services to East Grinstead and Littlehampton operates at peak times. The network opened as a through service in 1988, with severe overcrowding in 1998, carrying more than 28,000 passengers in the morning peak. All the services are currently operated by Thameslink.

The Thameslink Programme is a major $5.5 billion scheme to increase capacity on the central London service by accommodating more frequent and longer trains, replacing Thameslink 2000. The upgrade is scheduled for completion in 2019. In 2016, new Class 700 started operating on the route and have now replaced the Class 319, Class 377 and Class 387 trains which were withdrawn and relocated elsewhere.

Route
When Govia operated the original Thameslink franchise, it was designated "Thameslink CityFlier" and "Thameslink CityMetro" respectively, but at the First Capital Connect, the brandings were dropped. Govia Thameslink Railway have referred to the services as Route TL1 (formerly Route 6) and Route TL2/TL3 (formerly Route 7/8) respectively.