No real surprise that Thameslink would be on the HLOS agenda - given
the urgent need to rebuild London Bridge. It will also fill in the
national investment gap before Crossrail starts up after th'Olympix.

Quote
LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - Britain will announce a 30-year plan for
the country's overloaded rail system next week, giving the go-ahead
for a 3.5 billion pounds ($7.2 billion) upgrade to the Thameslink line
across London, industry sources said.
The paper will be launched against a backdrop of overcrowded carriages
and above-inflation fare increases.
But the UK's railways are nevertheless enjoying a boom as more and
more travellers switch from their cars and from planes, due to
congested roads and concerns about the environmental impact of
flying.
"Thameslink is going to be approved," an industry source told Reuters
on Friday. "That means tripling capacity from eight trains an hour to
24 trains an hour on the core route between Brighton and Bedford
through London."
"You'll also get a rebuilt London Bridge station and a rebuilt
Blackfriars station," said the source, adding that the government
would also approve the planned 500 million pounds reconstruction of
Birmingham's New Street station.
Another industry source said the 30-year rail plan would put emphasis
on developing the country's light rail network, including trams, which
are cheaper to run on low volume routes and easier to maintain.
"Thameslink will be one of the upfront priority projects, and they'll
be keen to get the first phase done ahead of the 2012 Olympics," added
that source. "The east-west pinch point at Reading will also be
addressed."
London's controversial Crossrail link still needs parliamentary
approval, so can not be given the green light.
"But I'm sure they'll say some warm words about it," said one of the
sources.
((Reporting by Pete Harrison; Editingy by Mark Potter, Reuters
Messaging: pete.harrison.reuters.comreuters.net; +44 207 542 7975))
($1=.4877 Pound) Keywords: RAIL PLAN/
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.
Unquote