Exciting changes at Farringdon

Farringdon station is being transformed, chiefly so it can take 50% longer Thameslink route trains giving you more chance of a seat (see what your new station will look like). And that means a great deal of building work that could make your journey more difficult. Hoardings are up on the platforms behind which heavy engineering work is taking place.

These are the points to remember:

• The station stays open and First Capital Connect trains continue to serve Farringdon (apart from when there are planned closures of the cross-London route and Tube services via Farringdon).  
• However, walking routes around the station may change with narrower platforms, and some congestion on parts of the platforms and exits.
• The Thameslink route Moorgate branch has closed which has made the station more congested.
• You may need to allow extra time or, in the rush hour, even consider using a different nearby station such as City Thameslink.

The first job has been to make it easier to get in and around the station and to reach the Tube. To do this, Network Rail has put in a new covered platform footbridge with two spans instead of one and an extra entrance/exit to Turnmill Street for one-way use in the rush hour. Here's what's going on...

In detail, what’s happening?

Read this update from our latest news section.

New station roof

Network Rail is starting work on a new station roof, being built to span all four platforms. Unfortunately this means that the temporary platform canopies at the north end of platform 4 have been removed to allow the support structure for the new roof to be put in place.

New temporary ticket office

From June, London Underground will be selling tickets from a new temporary ticket office, outside the station, on the corner of Turnmill Street and Cowcross Street. This will be clearly signposted.

New integrated ticket hall

Thameslink route national rail customers will, from December 2011, be able to access the first longer, 12-carriage trains (more will follow with the arrival of new trains from 2014) via a new integrated ticket hall.

The new ticket hall is being built opposite the existing station entrance in Cowcross Street. It will begin to take shape behind trackside hoardings south of Farringdon and work will begin extending platforms 3 and 4 northwards in late spring and southwards at the end of the year.

From 2017, the ticket hall will also provide access to east-west Crossrail services.

Cross-London services

Don’t forget the line between St Pancras International and Blackfriars is closed overnight weekdays and most weekends all the way through to 2012. Read about it here.

Get away from it all

You can avoid the building work altogether by using other First Capital Connect stations. City Thameslink is the nearest station, only a short half-mile walk away, or you may consider using St Pancras International.

View the First Capital Connect network map.