London's Thameslink 2000 rail scheme moves step closer » Communities » 24dash.com

A long-delayed £3.5 billion congestion-easing rail scheme moved a big step closer today.

The Government announced that it was giving planning permission and granting legal powers to Network Rail (NR) for the Thameslink 2000 project.

However, Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman stressed that this did not amount to a final go-ahead for the scheme as the Department for Transport was still considering the question of funding.

Nevertheless, NR said today's Government announcement was "a landmark decision" for a project which will see more than a doubling of capacity on routes from north of London to south of the capital.

Under discussion for years and the subject of a public inquiry, Thameslink 2000 will increase the number of stations used by direct north-south services by more than 200% from the present 51 to 172 and increase the possible length of trains from the present eight-carriage services to 12.

There will be major improvements at London Bridge, Blackfriars and Farringdon stations, with peak-time trains increasing from eight an hour to as many as 24.

NR chief executive John Armitt said: "This is a landmark decision that underlines growing confidence in Network Rail to deliver major improvements on Britain's railways.

"We are now one step closer to getting the green light for an essential congestion-beating rail project on one of the busiest parts of our network.

"Passengers want easier, more frequent, direct and comfortable journeys. The Thameslink scheme offers exactly this, and an early funding decision would enable us to deliver significant benefits before 2012."

The scheme will take an estimated seven years to build, with the ability to "pause" the scheme for the 2012 Olympics. The project will start to deliver passenger benefits within the first three years.

Copyright Press Association 2006.