West Hampstead Thameslink railway station

West Hampstead Thameslink is a National Rail station on the Midland Main Line and is served by Thameslink trains as part of the Thameslink route between Kentish Town and Cricklewood. The station is in Travelcard Zone 2.

History
The station was built by the Midland Railway on its extension to St. Pancras, to serve the newly developed area around the hamlet of West End. It opened on 1 March 1871, and was originally named West End for Kilburn and Hampstead.

For a short period from 1878 the station formed part of the Super Outer Circle, Midland trains running through from St Pancras to Earl's Court via Acton Central and Turnham Green.

It was renamed several times: to West End on 1 July 1903; to West End and Brondesbury on 1 April 1904; to West Hampstead on 1 September 1905; West Hampstead Midland on 25 September 1950; and finally West Hampstead Thameslink on 16 May 1988. It was popular for many years for people taking a day out on Hampstead Heath and those visiting the chalybeate springs in Hampstead itself.

Oyster Pay as you go was introduced in late 2007.

From March 2009, Southeastern and Thameslink began running some peak hour trains from Sevenoaks to Luton, though in the off-peak these services turn back at Kentish Town.

Connections
London Buses routes 139, 328 and C11 serve the station.

Services
All services at West Hampstead Thameslink are operated by Thameslink using EMUs.

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:
 * 2 tph to Bedford (non-stop to and from St Albans City)
 * 2 tph to Luton (all stations except Cricklewood and Hendon)
 * 4 tph to St Albans City (all stations)
 * 2 tph to Brighton via Gatwick Airport
 * 2 tph to Rainham via Dartford
 * 4 tph to Sutton (2 of these run via Mitcham Junction and 2 run via Wimbledon)

During the peak hours, the station is served by additional services between Luton and Orpington via Catford.

The station is also served by a night service between Bedford and Three Bridges on Sunday to Friday nights.