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Introduction

How do you untangle the tracks approaching one of the busiest stations in the UK?

How can you keep millions of passengers moving while undertaking a huge project to transform an ageing railway and its stations - and make sure they’re kept up to date?

Our exhibition Untangling the Tracks revealed how the Thameslink Programme tackled the challenges of communicating major infrastructure projects to large audiences in creative ways.

Visitors to the exhibition could…

  • Explore how historic London Transport posters and their modern Thameslink equivalents help to communicate important updates to passengers
  • Solve a signalling puzzle to divert trains into the right platforms, a challenge inspired by the engineering behind the new Bermondsey dive-under
  • See miniature models of new central London stations including Blackfriars - the only station to span the Thames
  • Experiment with a class 700 train model - can you spread out the passengers evenly?
  • Take part in our family activities: STEM-inspired workshops and story time sessions about the amazing landmarks on the Thameslink route including St Pauls Cathedral and the River Thames

Image carousel

A man and a woman look at a model of London Bridge station
Two young girls play with an interactive display in the exhibition space
A young woman looks at heritage transport posters

Smooth Operator interactive game

The Smooth Operator game in the exhibition gave visitors the chance to test their reactions against a train computer. Players had to press the buttons along the route to control the brakes and open and close the train doors before they accelerated to the next station, trying to be quick enough to beat the digital self-drive system.

Inspired by the real Automatic Train Operation (ATO) system found on Thameslink trains between Blackfriars and St. Pancreas stations, ATO has made services safer and more frequent for passengers. ‘Self-drive’ digital technology means that trains can run closer together than with manual operations helping passengers get to their destinations quicker.

The back of a young girl with her hearing in plaits, wearing a grey top and multi-coloured skirt. She is standing in front of the Smooth Operator game screen positioned on a white table
A photograph from above showing a girl playing on the Smooth Operator game. Her hand is moving the press the buttons on the left of the same screen. On the wall in front of her is a red wall with text about the game and a photograph showing the inside of a Thameslink train
A boy playing a face covering playing on the Smooth Operator game. He is wearing a plaid red and green shirt and his right hand is touching the screen ready to play.

Puzzle pack to download

Download and print our puzzle pack: a Thameslink-themed wordsearch and crossword perfect to keep kids entertained!

What is Thameslink?

Untangling the Tracks traced the history of the Thameslink route from 1866 through to the recent £7bn modernisation programme. It looked at the complexity of upgrading the UK’s railway network – the oldest in the world – and the impact on passengers.

Is short-term disruption worth long-term improvement? Visitors could have their say by exploring the exhibition!

The origins of the Thameslink route can be traced back to the London, Chatham and Dover Railway and their extension over the river Thames in 1866. The LC&DR was the only railway line to reach into the heart of London – all other lines terminated at the edge of the city.

Today the Thameslink route links destinations from the south coast through London to the east of England. The Thameslink Programme was a government funded modernisation programme involving Network Rail, train operators Govia Thameslink Railway and Southeastern, and train builders Siemens.

It ensured millions of passengers could continue to travel through London Bridge and other stations, while undertaking a huge infrastructure project to transform and modernise an aging railway and its stations. New trains now run on ‘untangled tracks’ into a completely re-built London Bridge station.

Quizzes

Inspired by some of the stations highlighted in our Untangling the Tracks exhibition, you can now find out what Thameslink station you’re most like! Take our personality quiz below and share your results with us using the hashtag #UntanglingTheTracks.

How much do you know about Thameslink? Play our quiz below and see how much you know about the history of the route and the upgrade programme itself - and don’t forget to share your results with us using the hashtag #UntanglingTheTracks.

Gallery Partners

The Untangling the Tracks exhibition was delivered in partnership with: