Network Rail is planning to terminate Thameslink trains at Blackfriars station, rather than continuing through central London (i.e. Farringdon, St Pancras and City Thameslink stations).

The Government is consulting the public on their views now and it would be great if as many people as possible could email their objections now, before the consultation closes at 5pm on August 23rd.

Please could you support this campaign by:
1) emailing the copy below to thameslink@dft.gsi.gov.uk<mailto:thameslink@dft.gsi.gov.uk>
2) signing the number 10 downing st petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36932 
3) liking/sharing http://www.facebook.com/SaveTheThameslink 
4) forwarding to colleagues, friends, family and anyone else that you think would support this campaign.



Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing in response to the consultation on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises:http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-23/ . 

I am very concerned by section 7.21 and the recommendation from Network Rail to start and terminate Thameslink (Wimbledon loop) trains at Blackfriars station, rather than continuing through central London.

This proposal is devastating for millions of Thameslink residents and commuters who have made significant financial and personal commitments to live by the Thameslink (Wimbledon loop) line precisely because it takes them directly into central London, particularly, Herne Hill, Farringdon, St Pancras and City Thameslink. To take this option away in order to provide new services for other parts of London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, which already have better and less overcrowded services than the Thameslink, and whose populations are smaller than the Wimbledon loop boroughs, makes no sense and is deeply unfair.

Moreover most Thameslink (Wimbledon loop) residents and commuters have no access to the Underground. To them the Thameslink (Wimbledon loop) is absolutely vital – they have few other transport choices in this part of South London and they have made decisions to live and/or buy homes based solely on the Thameslink running through central London i.e. Farringdon, Herne Hill, St Pancras and City Thameslink stations.

It is also particularly galling given that the Wimbledon loop (Thameslink) residents and commuters have suffered more than five years of poor service in the evenings and at the weekend, based on the understanding that these “vital renovations” were essential to providing them with a dramatically improved service in the future. Whereas, I am shocked to discover the complete opposite is true and appalled by the lack of communication.

I therefore urgently urge the Wimbledon loop MPs, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers and the Department for Transport to do everything they can to wholeheartedly reject Network Rail’s proposals that Thameslink Wimbledon loop trains should terminate at Blackfriars station.

Yours faithfully,