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Wednesday 28 Jan 2015

Thames Water face massive bill for Thameslink disruption

Region & Route:

| Southern

Thames Water faces a multi-million pound bill for a burst water main and several other leaks from other water pipes since Friday evening.

Severe disruption has continued all day and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Network Rail will once again have to close the rail route between St Pancras and Farringdon tonight (from 9pm).

Passengers are advised to expect severe delays in the evening peak. Over 1,000 trains have been cancelled since the first main burst on Friday with a further 133 hours of combined delays to those trains which have been running. Each train can carry up to 750 passengers. People make up to 200,000 journeys on Thameslink every weekday.

Since the first water main burst on Friday, Thames Water has found a further four leaks. Although these are said to be fixed, water is still coming into the tunnel.

Phil Verster, route managing director, Network Rail, said: “Passengers have suffered a lot this week as a result of Thames Water’s burst and leaking pipes. We continue to work with Thames Water but the overwhelming extent of the continued flooding made it unsafe to run normal through services between London St Pancras and London Blackfriars since Sunday.

“We have several high output pumps operating but the service is still hugely delayed. We expect Thames water to reimburse passengers, train operators and Network Rail for the significant consequences of these water leaks.”

Stuart Cheshire, GTR’s Passenger Service Director for Thameslink, said: “Passengers have been very patient but, like us, that patience has been utterly exhausted. These recurring leaks have to stop. Our passengers want a reliable service and we want to give it to them.

“Tonight our passengers will have another very difficult journey home. We will have to thin out our services before cancelling them altogether between St Pancras and Farringdon. We are arranging for buses to run between the Great Northern route and Thameslink as well as for our tickets to be accepted by all other operators. Please visit thameslinkrailway.com for the latest information.

“Passengers can claim compensation for their delayed journeys at thameslinkrailway.com/delayrepay.”