MPs have joined rail campaigners to demand the commissioning of a new station adjoining the new London Eurostar terminus.

The new Thameslink station has been built but may remain closed for eight years unless the Government takes action.

The station box was built when Thameslink services were "blockaded" for six months over the winter during the construction of the Channel Tunnel rail link station at St Pancras.

"If you've caught a train into or out of King's Cross Thameslink since the end of the blockade, then you will have seen the new St Pancras Thameslink station," said a rail campaigner.

"It's the 100 yards of unadorned concrete pillars and unfinished platforms that looks a bit like the inside of a ghost train. Having been opened to through-trains in May 2005, present estimates say that services might actually get to stop there some time in 2013.

"That's if we're lucky, and if the cash is provided to finish it off. What we have now is a station that has been half-built, at great expense to the taxpayer and traveller, that will be of absolutely no use whatsoever for a total of eight years."

Bedford Commuters Association has had long and involved negotiations on this subject with Alistair Burt MP (Con, North East Beds), Patrick Hall MP (Lab, Bedford) and Nadine Dorries MP (Con, Mid Beds).

The BCA said: "We are happy to report that all three MPs are fighting hard on behalf of their constituents to try to apply as much pressure as possible to get this station finished and open.

"Alistair Burt has publicly praised BCA for the work being done to try to get this station completed, and so committed is new MP Nadine Dorries to the cause, that practically the first thing she did on arrival at the Palace of Westminster was to issue an Early Day Motion on the subject.

Early Day Motion 169 reads: This House regrets the continuing uncertainty and delay over the Government's decision fully to fit out the new St Pancras International station to enable passengers to transfer between international, national and underground lines; recalls the promise made to users of Thameslink that a new modern station would be the return for the disruption to services experienced for eight months until May 2005; is concerned that the anticipated completion date of 2007 is now in considerable doubt; supports the bid by Network Rail for the investment to fit out the station; and urges the Government to make quickly the decision to invest for the benefit of the millions who will use the lines every year and for the international reputation of British rail services.

There are now 20 signatories to the EDM, including the three Bedfordshire MPs listed above.

The following MPs, whose constituencies contain large numbers of Thameslink travellers, have also signed-up: Anne Main (Con, St Albans), Andrew Selous (Con, SW Beds), Peter Bottomley (Con, Worthing West), Jeremy Corbyn (Lab, Islington N), Paul Burstow (LD, Sutton & Cheam), and Edward Davey (LD, Kingston & Surbiton).

Meanwhile, the following MPs who have little constituency interest but are still supportive have signed-up: Mike Hancock (LD, Portsmouth South), John Randall (Con, Uxbridge), Iris Robinson (DUP, Strangford), Derek Conway (Con, Old Bexley & Sidcup), Edward Garnier (Con, Harborough), Andrew Rosindell (Con, Romford), Julian Lewis (Con, New Forest East), Ann Cryer (Lab, Keighley), Alan Simpson (Lab, Nottingham S), Bill Etherington (Lab, Sunderland N), Gregory Campbell (DUP, Londonderry E).

The BCA asks: "What is the Government up to while this rumbles on? Not a lot, actually. In fact following the recent election, the Prime Minister actually took action to abolish the post of Railways Minister, and replace it with that of a Parliamentary Under-Secretary."

A second EDM in support of the Thameslink station fitting-out was put forward by Lib Dem Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington.

EDM 376 reads: This House notes the re-opening of the Thameslink through-route and congratulates Thameslink and its contractors for completing construction of the new Thameslink St Pancras box station on time; regrets that funding has not been made available to fit-out the new Thameslink station at St Pancras and that no timetable for resolving the funding crisis has been established; commends Michael Green for using the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to highlight this financial shortfall; and calls on the Government to draw up immediately a plan to resolve this crisis.

EDM 376 was supported by Lynne Featherstone LD Hornsey and Wood Green), Mike Hancock (LD, Portsmouth South), Peter Bottomley (Con, Worthing West), Jeremy Corbyn (Lab, Islington N), Iris Robinson (DUP, Strangford), Lindsay Hoyle (Lab, Chorley) and Andrew George (LD St Ives).

If your MP is not listed above, perhaps you should remind him or her of the importance of the Thameslink station and the fact that Transport for London has offered to contribute towards its cost.

The Government should take action quickly.