Thameslink 2000 @ Borough Market & Blackfriars

I've been interested in the impact of the change in Eurostar route on the decision as well. I didn't get to follow the hearing as it proceeded though so I don't know to what extent they re-examined the viability of the Elephant / Herne Hill option - from a vague memory of reading the papers I get the feeling not very seriously. It would seem to be a terrible missed opportunity for south London. I think the decision that an improved service was needed for places like Cambridge and Brighton rather than Camberwell and Elephant came first and the plans followed from that. I think the Elephant option would have been much more preferable but I'm hardly impartial.

Does anybody know what the references to the 'Bermondsey dive under' are? Where will this be?

the link to the Borough market page show good photo's but the maps appear to be from the original 'Thameslink 2000' scheme, and the dates on the maps are 1997.

Surely the plans will have changed since then!!

No, they haven't. This 'battle' has been going on over a very long time.

And don't call me surely, I am Spartacus.

I think in some places the plans for the construction have changed. But my understanding is that, as regards Borough market, the new work will still run, like a huge concrete stake, straight through the heart of the market.

Even if it might be possible to move some of the stalls out of the way - after seven years of heavy construction driving a new high level viaduct through the area, there won't be a single customer left.

Well, it was nice while we had it. :o(

But...I am Spartacus!

red_bus wrote:

Even if it might be possible to move some of the stalls out of the way - after seven years of heavy construction driving a new high level viaduct through the area, there won't be a single customer left.

I can't see how the market will survive with the amount of works going on. Would you want to go to a market in the middle of a building site with all the noise and dust ?

The E&C option could have coincided with re-opening stations at Camberwell and Walworth to help regenerate those areas as well as helping to support the regeneration of the E&C area. A very short sighted decision IMO.

martinr wrote:

A very short sighted decision IMO.

Tha would be the entire story of British transportation "strategy" in a nutshell, wouldn't it? ;-)

red_bus wrote:

I think in some places the plans for the construction have changed. But my understanding is that, as regards Borough market, the new work will still run, like a huge concrete stake, straight through the heart of the market.
Even if it might be possible to move some of the stalls out of the way - after seven years of heavy construction driving a new high level viaduct through the area, there won't be a single customer left.

Well, it was nice while we had it. :o(

http://thameslink.members.beeb.net/page4.html

Is there anyone anywhere among the Powers that Be with ANY sense or sensitivity? What on earth is the point of ruining an historic site, an increasing tourist trap, (hence a money spinner) when the E&C is ANYWAY being demolished and rebuilt? It beggars belief. Is there not one single sane person to talk to?
Surely there is. Spartacus there is.