Network Rail has said work to rebuild Blackfriars station will ‘come a step closer to completion this weekend as the station’s final two new platforms open for use’.
700 extra trains will ‘call at Blackfirars every week thanks to the new platforms and the completion of engineering work’ on the central London section of the Thameslink route, allowing trains to serve the station later at night and on weekends.
Network Rail senior programme manager for Blackfriars, Paul Byrne, said:
“Our work to rebuild Blackfriars is approaching completion with two new platforms opening on Saturday, coupled with the end of weekend closures on the route, allowing over 700 extra trains to serve the station each week.
“We’ve still got a plenty of work to do before the Blackfriars upgrade is completed but more areas of the new station are opening month by month, train services are improving, and passengers are seeing the benefits.”
Network Rail, working in partnership with Balfour Beatty, has rebuilt Blackfriars station on top of a Victorian rail bridge, creating the only station in London to span the River Thames.
The new station roof, built on top of the bridge, is currently being fitted with 4,400 solar panels to create London’s largest solar array.
The work is part of an upgrade of Thameslink route, which runs from Bedford to Brighton through central London, which will eventually allow 24 trains per hour in each direction to run through Blackfriars.
Click here to see a timelapse video of the renovation works.
