Rail passengers using the Sutton and Wimbledon loop will be able to access central London again at nights and weekends from this weekend.

First Capital Connect (FCC) will begin running rail services through the heart of London again at nights and at weekends from May 19, after three-and-a-half years of engineering work.

The works, which have been part of a £6bn Thameslink upgrade programme, have seen Blackfriars Station closed at night and weekend, meaning trains have not run through to south London.

From May 26, extra weekend service will be introduced for people on the Wimbledon and Sutton loop, with more evening trains on Saturdays via Wimbledon.

For the first time, from May 27, there will be a new Sunday service between Sutton and Blackfriars via Carshalton, Hackbridge, Mitcham Junction and Mitcham Eastfields twice an hour.

And on weekdays there will be a later service at 8.48pm from St Pancras International to Sutton via Mitcham Junction, and a later service at 10.47pm from Sutton to St Pancras International, via Wimbledon.