MP warns of growing pressure on railway line

An MP has warned that the planned Universal theme park and airport expansion could cause a railway route to exceed its capacity within five years.

Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called on Thameslink and Network Rail to set out how they would cope with rising demand on the Bedford to Brighton route.

She said pressure on the line would increase due to the expansion of Luton Airport, the proposed Universal Studios theme park near Bedford and the construction of a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange in St Albans, alongside housing growth.

Network Rail and Thameslink have both been approached for comment.

Cooper met senior executives from Thameslink and Network Rail in Parliament last month after writing to them citing those projects and population growth as drivers of mounting pressure on the service.

She has accused previous governments of failing to act despite improvement proposals for the route, and warned Labour not to "sit by whilst pressures mount on our Thameslink services".

According to the Lib Dems, Network Rail and Thameslink told Cooper they were drawing up new capacity plans to be submitted to the government by the summer.

The proposals they have considered include timetable changes, using more 12‑car trains, and infrastructure improvements around the Croydon area, the party said.

Cooper added: "Once a proposal to increase capacity has been submitted, I'll be doing all I can to ensure the government funds it.

"I'll be writing to all MPs up and down the Bedford to Brighton line asking them to join me in this fight to expand Thameslink capacity, before it's too late."

The Department for Transport has been approached for comment.

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