[crossposted to uk.transport.london and uk.railway]

The Thameslink project now has all the legal powers to start
construction - it just needs someone to agree to pay for it! The
"Thameslink project" is the revised name Network Rail appear to use for
Thameslink 2000, though they've also used the term "Thameslink
Programme" in the past as well [1]. And the BBC uses the plain wrong
term of Thameslink 2012!

BBC News online story (replete with errors!):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6061960.stm

Network Rail press release:
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...Categ oryID=2
or via http://tinyurl.com/yz66p8

Snippets from the Network Rail press release...

--------------------
THE £3.5BN THAMESLINK PROJECT CLEARS MAJOR HURDLE

Wednesday 18 October 2006 09:45

The transformation of the Thameslink route takes a big step forward
today as two key Government departments (Department for Transport and
Department for Communities & Local Government) agreed to grant planning
permission and legal powers to Network Rail to 're-build' the
Thameslink route.

[...]

The future of the £3.5bn project now rests on a funding decision.
Network Rail will work to support the Department for Transport as it
seeks to establish a funding mechanism. An early decision would enable
the company to deliver substantial passenger benefits before 2012.

[...]

Notes to Editors:

In a written statement to Parliament, the Secretary of State for
Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government will today grant legal powers and planning consents to
Network Rail for the £3.5bn 'Thameslink Programme'. This does not
amount to a final go-ahead for the project as funding has yet to be
agreed

The Transport and Works Act Order gives planning permission and
statutory powers to Network Rail, together with listed building and
conservation area consents and consents for consequential rail
closures. It follows the recommendations of the planning
inspectorate's public inquiry last year into the scheme.

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


I haven't been paying very close attention to developments - can anyone
provide some information as to how the Borough Market issue has been
resolved?

-----
[1] Network Rail - "Thameslink Programme"
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1326.aspx