What has happened to the Thameslink service from Brighton to Bedford,, does it still exist?

Question

I have just done a search on National Rail and I thought it would come up with a direct route from south london to Bedford, but instead it says I have to change at Victoria??

Answer 1

This is why I hate using these online journey planners, even National Rail's own one.

Sure the direct service still exists. It's now operated by First Capital Connect but still under the Thameslink banner. You can download the timetables directly from their website.

**EDIT**

Ah well, in my own defence that's a different question entirely. If the question had been posed as to why the direct Thameslink service wasn't operating on a certain date my answer would have been different. I'm afraid that I didn't have the benefit of the additional details when I posted my answer.

Well, that's my story and I'm going to be sticking to it. ;o)

*Laughs*

Answer 2

Thameslink no longer exsits as a company, there franchise was taken over a few years back by First Group and became First Capital Connect.  There are some stations like St Pauls branded as St Pauls Thameslink.

Answer 3

The service still exists but won't be operating at the weekend for the foreseeable future while construction work for the Thameslink upgrade takes place. This will see Blackfriars station completely rebuilt, and platforms lengthend at all other stations as well as upgrades to signalling. The aim is to massivly boost the frequency through the central section to 24 trains per hour. It will also allow trains from Cambridge to run through to Brighton via a new tunnel to the north of St Pancras

The Thameslink franchise does still exist, though it trades as Capital Connect. The name is probably a compromise as the franchise also includes services from Kings Cross to Peterborough and Cambridge, which will be connected to the Thameslink tunnels in the next few years. In fact Capital Connect is the former branding used by BR when the electric services launched in the early 1980s before Thameslink was launched in the late 1980's/early 1990s

Answer 4

Yes it does. It travels all stations to Gatwick Airport, then fast to East Croydon, then fast to London Bridge which is why, from South London, you may have been directed to travel via Victoria (you don't say which station you intend to start from). However, certainly over the weekend of 16/17 August the service was not running between London Bridge and St. Pancras due to engineering works - I know because I used it (but was only going to London Bridge anyway). So if this is a on-going disruption and you want to travel at weekends, that may be another reason why you were directed to Victoria.

In response to Fast Reg the service is always shown on journy planners - I use it regularly