Blackfriars Underground Station is Re-opened

Published 29th February 2012

Blackfriars Station Re-opened Underground Platforms for Circle and District lines on 20th February

The underground station was closed in order to allow the re-build of the entire station as part of Network Rail’s Thameslink Programme in March 2009. District and Circle line services were able to run during this period, albeit non-stop from Temple to Mansion House. The tube line was protected by a concrete sectioned tunnel painted with yellow and black identification stripes.

Step Free Access

In order to comply with disabled travel regulations and allowing access for all, two elevators have been fitted, one to each of the westbound and eastbound platforms. There are also four escalators, two to each platform. Four escalators and seven elevators have been fitted to the national rail platforms.

The upgrade on the northern side of the river comes around two months after the new station entrance was opened on the south bank, creating the first station in London to span the River Thames. The new platforms at Network Rail level also have over 4000 solar panels, which will provide a vast quantity of the energy needed by the station.

It is now noted that the entire new station, including the new terminal bay platforms, will be fully completed in the summer of this year.

Step Free Access

In order to comply with disabled travel regulations and allowing access for all, two elevators have been fitted, one to each of the westbound and eastbound platforms. There are also four escalators, two to each platform. Four escalators and seven elevators have been fitted to the national rail platforms.

The upgrade on the northern side of the river comes around two months after the new station entrance was opened on the south bank, creating the first station in London to span the River Thames. The new platforms at Network Rail level also have over 4000 solar panels, which will provide a vast quantity of the energy needed by the station.

It is now noted that the entire new station, including the new terminal bay platforms, will be fully completed in the summer of this year.

Boris Says:

The new station, including Underground platforms, will handle some 40,000 extra passengers daily. Boris Johnson said “With its magnificent ticket hall, brand new lifts and escalators, and more than double the previous capacity, the rebirth of this central London station will improve the journeys of thousands of passengers every single day. An incredible amount of hard work and expertise has been invested in these improvements, and Blackfriars is now set to become a truly world class station.”

A Train Every 150 Seconds?

At the end of the Thameslink Programme, it is anticipated that as many as 24 trains per hour will operate between St Pancras and Blackfriars, with new destinations to the Thameslink map expected to be Littlehampton, Eastbourne, Cambridge, Peterborough and Dartford.

External Links

• Network Rail
• TFL
• Thameslink Programme