URGENT SERVICE UPDATE: No Thameslink or Great Northern rail service on Tuesday anywhere north of London

No Thameslink trains will run on the Midland Main Line between Bedford and London Blackfriars (the route via Luton, St Albans and St Pancras), on Tuesday 19 July due to the extreme heat.

This follows the earlier decision by Network Rail to close the East Coast Main Line to and from King's Cross on Tuesday for safety reasons. 

The route between Cambridge and King’s Lynn is also set to remain closed because of track which buckled in today's heat.

As a result, there will be no Thameslink or Great Northern trains running in any location north of London, from London Blackfriars via St Pancras, or from London King's Cross or London Moorgate on Tuesday.

The closures are a safety decision as the level of heat expected on Tuesday 19 July is beyond the safe design limits of the track and power systems on both the Midland Main Line and East Coast Main Line. 

Thameslink and Great Northern Customer Services Director Jenny Saunders said: 

“Due to extreme temperatures having a severe impact on railway infrastructure, there will be no Thameslink or Great Northern services north of London Blackfriars on Tuesday. 

"We’re really sorry for the inconvenience this may cause but our number one priority will always be the safety of our passengers. 

"Customers can use tickets for Tuesday on the following two days instead or get a refund or claim compensation. Elsewhere, we’d strongly advise passengers to only travel by rail if your journey is absolutely essential, especially to destinations along the coast, where there is likely to be significant disruption.”

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