Transformation of London Bridge announced

Artist's impression showing London Bridge station following a major transformation as part of the £6bn Thameslink programme. View from St Thomas Street.

Network Rail has today unveiled new plans to transform London Bridge, to create a bigger and better station for passengers and enable a more frequent and reliable train service to operate.

Artist's impression showing London Bridge station following a major transformation as part of the £6bn Thameslink programme. View from St Thomas Street.

The plans include a new concourse that is bigger than the pitch at Wembley, which will sit underneath the tracks. Two new entrances will be constructed on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street, which will improve links between the areas around the station.

Coupled with changes and improvements to the rail infrastructure around the station, the investment in the area will mark the final phase of the Thameslink programme to deliver longer trains and more frequent services to more destinations.

Martin Jurkowski, Network Rail’s project director leading the London Bridge redevelopment, said: “Passengers want more space, less congestion and a station that is easier to get around in – as well as a better, more reliable rail service. Our proposals for London Bridge deliver all these benefits and more.”

Network Rail will be seeking the views of station users, local residents and businesses, before submitting a planning application for the redevelopment. This period of consultation will include an exhibition at London Bridge station in the week commencing 16 May.

Mr Jurkowski added: “We want to know what people think of our plans and we are encouraging people to find out more, either in person or online at www.networkrail.co.uk/thameslink .“

The complex, five year construction project, is planned to get underway fully in 2013 and is scheduled to be completed in 2018. Features and benefits include:

• A new concourse at street level, with entrances on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street. As well as improving access to the station, this will help continue the regeneration of the surrounding area by better connecting north and south
• The concourse will be filled with natural light, that will come through the canopies that will cover the platforms above, making a more pleasant environment for passengers
• Step-free access to all platforms from the main concourse, making the station easier to use – especially for people with reduced mobility, or those with luggage or small children
• Space for around two thirds more passengers than use the station today
• An increase in the number of tracks going through the station from six to nine and a reduction from nine to six in the number of terminating platforms. This will enable eighteen of the planned 24 Thameslink services per hour to call at London Bridge.

Speaking about the proposed redevelopment, James Dinwiddie, Team London Bridge chair, said: “The local business community sees the new station as vital to the success of the area and a catalyst for further redevelopment. We have lobbied strongly for improving this crucial transport hub for some time and, in partnership with Network Rail, will be ensuring that the needs of businesses are considered in the final plans and designs.“

Work is already underway to improve the station, with the Shard development funding a new bus station – part of the London Bridge Quarter improvements – and delivering a new entrance and upper concourse for the train station. With these improvements to be complete in 2012, the announcement on the redevelopment of the whole station means a complete vision for the future of London Bridge is now in place.

The Royal wedding bank holiday weekend will also see the Thameslink programme take a significant step forward, as the bridge that will carry the extra tracks through London Bridge station will be slid into place over Borough High Street.