On Jul 16, 11:19*am, Tom Anderson wrote:

Morning all,

There is an idea that trains could run from the Thameslink core to
Cambridge, or at least on to some part of the Great Northern route, via a
junction just north of St Pancras Low Level.

What is the status of this idea? Is it a definite part of the Thameslink
masterplan? Has it been scrapped? Was it never more than conjecture? Have
i dreamed it up?

In particular, i remember some work being done towards it as part of the
CTRL 2 works at St Pancras - a short section of tunnel under the CTRL/NLL
spaghetti junction, facing SPILL at one end and the GN at the other. Does
that exist, or is this another flight of fancy on my part?

Tunnels (plural) exist - you can see them from the far north end of
the low-level Thameslink platforms at St Pancras. The bored tunnels
become a cut-and-cover tunnel which then surfaces on the western side
of the GN/ECML - you can just about catch a glimpse of the portal from
passing trains on the GN/ECML or indeed from up on the CTRL, but you
kinda need to know what you're looking for. It's also vaguely visible
from York Way (the road) - where you're almost on the top of the
portal - but it's rather concealed and again you really need to know
what you're looking at (Bing Maps Bird's Eye view is useful here).
Perfect day to go and have a look I reckon.