Plans for London Bridge revealed

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.’

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.

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.
• 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.
• Space for around two thirds more passengers than use the station today.

Plans include 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.

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.