It's all change at London Blackfriars!

The next few months

Here's what's happening:

• A new covered walkway will be put up this summer to take you from the concourse all the way to the platform footbridge. This allows Network Rail to remove the old section of platform 4 beyond which trains now stop.
• A few weeks later, this covered walkway will be replaced by a new route from the station concourse to the platforms, along the east side of the bridge.
• Behind the scenes, work continues building the new South Bank station entrance and renovating and strengthening the rib arches and decking of the bridge structure below.

With all this work going on, you're miles better off using City Thameslink station.

The story so far... work to date

Station entrance moved

Network Rail contractors have closed the main north-west entrance, stairs and escalators and opened a more direct route from the station concourse via a new temporary covered staircase off Queen Victoria Street nearby.

There is a new entrance and exit off platform 5 (northbound) from Paul’s Walk footpath beside the river below.

Station concourse

A section of the station concourse has been closed off and bridged by an extension to the linkway to platform 4.

Roof panels

Existing roof panels over platforms 4 and 5 at Blackfriars station have been taken down. There's simply no other way the building work could progress. We're doing everything we can to protect you from the elements with extra canopies being erected on platform 4. However, platform 5 can't support additional canopies; limited shelter is afforded in the staircase entrance to Paul's Walk.

Link between platforms 4 and 5

A new footbridge has opened between platforms 4 and 5. The subway route has also closed. Posters and signs have been put up to help you find your way.

Platform 4 extended south

Platform 4 has been extended and moved south with platform canopies, public address systems and CCTV.
This means trains are now stopping 90m further away from the main concourse giving you a slightly longer walk to your southbound train. Please allow more time and help yourself (and us!) by moving down the platform to use its full length.

Why you may be kept waiting

If platform 4 does become overcrowded, station staff may be forced to temporarily close or restrict the concourse ticket gate entrance. This decision will not be taken lightly and will be in the interests of your own safety.

Pavements closed

The pavement to the west of the station is closed for Network Rail construction works. This also shuts off the pedestrian subway entrance outside Blackfriars station (entry/exit points 2 and 3).

Further pavement closures

Transport for London (TfL) has also closed the pavement on the eastern side of Blackfriars road bridge (see map above).

TfL made this decision in the interests of pedestrian safety and after consultation with Network Rail, the City of London and the London Borough of Southwark.

The safety concern is that pedestrians could become stranded at the edge of the Blackfriars redevelopment work site on the eastern side of the north end of the bridge where the station building work temporarily requires the suspension of the road crossing between the east and west pavements.

To reach the station from south of the river, people without tickets should use the western side of the bridge, enter the subway at point 5, exit at point 1, then cross the road at the crossing outside Blackfriars and dog-leg back to the station entrance. This is also the case for anyone approaching from the west along the north river bank.

Customers with tickets have a shorter route. They can walk down to the riverside path (Paul's Walk) at point 5, go under the road bridge and climb the new staircase to platform 5 of the station.

Thames Path diversion

Work has also started on the new South Bank station entrance, closing a 100m section of the Thames Path until late 2011. More details.

City Thameslink’s so much better

With all the building work going on at Blackfriars and changes to the walking routes outside the station, you are definitely better off using City Thameslink station instead. It doesn't cost you any more to reach, it’s enclosed, warmer and actually only a couple of hundred yards away. And ALL northbound trains now call there – including the services from Kent and south-east London that previously terminated at Blackfriars (see ‘New services...’ below). That means, if you’re heading south to get home, you’re more likely to get a seat from City Thameslink too!

See how close City Thameslink is to your destination (click to enlarge):

Find out what's going on at City Thameslink station.

New services between stations north and south of the Thames

The closure of the three terminating 'bay' platforms (numbers 1-3) at Blackfriars on 22 March 2009 means there are now some great new services between north Thameslink route stations such as Kentish Town, St Albans and Bedford and south-east London and Kent.

Above: existing and artist's impression of the new station

Above: Blackfriars South Bank entrance (artist's impression)

Above: Millennium Bridge (artist's impression)

Above: Blackfriars platform view (artist's impression)

Above: Blackfriars south abutment (artist's impression)