The Great Northern route (formerly known as Great Northern Electrics) is the name given to suburban rail services run on the southern end of Britain's East Coast Main Line and its associated branches. Services operate to or from and in London. Destinations include , , , and , and in peak hours, additional services run to and . Services run through parts of Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk. The route forms a major commuter route into London from Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and eastern Bedfordshire: ridership has grown rapidly over recent years. In 2009, rolling stock was transferred from other lines to allow additional services and longer trains to be run. In early 2018, the line was connected to the Thameslink route via a junction just south of the High Speed 1 bridge, north of King's Cross, allowing through services to the south of London. Since September 2014, the services have been operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). The Thameslink and Great Northern service brands were maintained and separated from each other. Route The network consists of all local and semi-fast services on these lines: East Coast Main Line south of Peterborough Northern City Line Hertford Loop Line Cambridge Line Additionally, the main service on the Fen Line is provided as part of the route. All services are provided by EMUs. At privatisation the services became part of West Anglia Great Northern, becoming their sole route in 2004 when the West Anglia services were transferred to 'one'. In April 2006 the services became the responsibility of First Capital Connect. In September 2014, the Department for Transport transferred the new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise to Govia Thameslink Railway. In 2018, with the completion of the Thameslink Programme, many services on the route became part of the Thameslink network, running through central London to destinations south of the River Thames. History The term Great Northern is related to the Great Northern Railway, the original builders of the line. The July 1922 Bradshaw's Railway Guide stated a typical rail service on the Cambridge Line as follows: to - Six stopping and two (three on Saturday) semi-fast services from Monday to Saturday, one northbound and two southbound stopping services on Sunday. The fastest service took about 1 hour 30 minutes. London King's Cross to - Two (three on Wednesday) additional services from Monday to Saturday, one additional service on Sunday. London King's