Thameslink resumes normal service following flooding problems

Thameslink trains are back to normal following the removal of flood water from the Clerkenwell tunnels.

Network Rail gave the green light for normal services to resume after pumping half a million litres of water out of a rail tunnel between Farringdon and St Pancras in central London.

The problems followed the rupture of a water main on Friday morning. Thames Water eventually fixed the leak on Sunday but water kept flowing from the saturated ground.

Thameslink passenger service director Stuart Cheshire said: “After four days of disruption we’re pleased to confirm that we will be able to operate to our normal timetable.

“This has been incredibly frustrating for everyone and I would like to thank our passengers for their patience as well as railway staff for all their hard work.”

Phil Verster, managing director London North East and East Midlands at Network Rail, added: “We have had engineers on site since the weekend, working tirelessly and continuously, to pump out over 500,000 litres of water from the Clerkenwell tunnels following the failure of Thames’ water main.

“We would like to thank passengers and GTR for their patience whilst we have dealt with this complex recovery programme.”

Thameslink trains ran a quarter of their normal service in the peak as a result of the flooding.