London Bridge station redevelopment unveiled

The plans for the biggest station redevelopment in a generation launch the second wave of the Government funded Thameslink programme.

As well as an ambitious redevelopment of London Bridge station, the scheme involves major surgery on miles of outdated track and signalling, with upgrades from Bedford to Brighton and on other rail routes that serve London Bridge, and ultimately a fleet of new state-of-the-art trains.

Technically demanding

Robin Gisby, our managing director of network operations said: “This will be the most ambitious redevelopment of any London station in a generation and one of the most technically demanding projects ever undertaken on our railway.

“It is only possible because of the partnership that we have built with the train operators, Transport for London and our suppliers. But ultimately its success will be defined by the passengers who use the station. The benefits will be massive, but we need their help and support to make it happen.”

Meeting the growth in demand

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Passenger numbers have risen on an unprecedented scale in recent years and are now at their highest since the 1920s. It is absolutely essential that we keep pace with this growth, which is why the Government is funding a massive programme of investment in our railways.

“Train passengers will be the biggest winners from this investment as London Bridge station is transformed from one of the capital’s most congested stations into one of the most modern, accessible and passenger-friendly transport hubs in the UK.”

Phased approach

Network Rail will carry out the work to the station and track in distinct phases, each having a different impact on train services. This means a number of shorter periods of disruption rather than all passengers being impacted for the full duration of the project. The biggest changes include:

• December 2012: The London Overground extension opens 9 December 2012 benefiting passengers using Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye, coinciding with the withdrawal of Southern’s South London Line services between Victoria and London Bridge via Denmark Hill. The timing of many of Southern’s services to and from London Bridge will be changing from 9 December 2012 as a result of the station work
• May 2013: Platforms 14-16 are taken out of use for the redevelopment work. Some services will be retimed and there will be platform changes
• December 2014 to 2018: Thameslink route services to and from central London are diverted away from London Bridge
• 2015 to 2016: Services to Charing Cross station will not call at London Bridge station
• 2016 to late 2017: Services to Cannon Street station will not call at London Bridge station

Some timings are subject to ongoing planning.

The new London Bridge station

When fully complete in 2018, London Bridge station will have the biggest concourse in the UK. Lifts or escalators will take passengers to every platform, whilst new entrances on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street will mean better access to cycling, walking and bus routes.

Congestion on the Northern line at London Bridge Underground station will be reduced and the capacity for train services stopping at the station between 8am and 9am will increase from 70 to a maximum of 88.

Read more about Thameslink and for the latest information.

Fact file

• London Bridge is London’s oldest station, first built in 1836
• Its 55 million users make it one of the busiest stations with 50 per cent more passengers than Gatwick Airport and more than twice the number it was designed for
• Despite recent improvements to the bus station and a new concourse next to the Shard, London Bridge remains a dark and crowded station with poor links to other forms of transport and a block to regenerating the local area