20 YEARS AGO...

MAY 2000

■ NEW CROSS-LONDON LINK LAUNCHED:

Anglia Railways began running its new ‘Crosslink’ service between East Anglia and Basingstoke via the North London Line at the start of the summer timetable in May. It was the first all-new service to be started under a Rail Passenger Partnership initiative, Anglia having received £2.8m over three years. Six trains ran in each direction from Colchester/Chelmsford, with one extended from/to Norwich. Formed of Class 170 DMUs, all trains stopped at Stratford, Highbury & Islington, West Hampstead, Feltham, Staines, Woking and Farnborough Main. The plan was to develop the route asamajor ‘London bypass’ leisure corridor rather than amajor commuter route. It was not considered a success, however, and the service ended in September 2002.