Blackfriars station - some facts

A brand new station will be built by 2012, able to handle 12-carriage trains from December 2011 and many more trains per hour. It will be the first station in London to span the Thames, with a new entrance on the South Bank providing access to destinations such as Tate Modern. A new integrated ticket hall will give superior connections to the Tube (Blackfriars Tube station reopens in late 2011).

Since work began on 22 March 2009, Network Rail has closed platforms 1, 2 and 3 and been rebuilding the eastern half of the bridge.
The station remains fully operational. A new station entrance was opened on the riverside path Paul's Walk and a new platform footbridge was lowered into place once the station subway closed.
Both remaining platforms have been extended over the river to make space for construction work at the north site.
Much of the roof above the remaining platforms and concourse has been demolished and new canopies put up where possible.
Behind the hoardings, Network Rail has 50,000 man hours being worked in shifts every week.
The rail bridge was built in 1886 (in part by H M Brunel, the son of Isambard Kingdom Brunel) and its structure needs to be refurbished and strengthened.
Rib arches are being repaired. Some 37,000 Victorian rivets are being removed by hand and replaced with bolts.
New rib arches are also being installed to widen the bridge by one span to the east side and three on the west. These rib arches are being brought in by river barge
In total, over 14,000 tonnes of materials is being brought in by barge to build the station's new bridge deck, longer platforms and roof spanning the river. Another 8,000 tonnes of deck and pier demolition materials will also be removed. Network Rail estimates it is taking more than 2,000 lorries off the streets as a result.
New steel decking is going down to strengthen the bridge before the new station is built above.
An iron cage has been fitted over the District and Circle lines so that Underground services can continue uninterrupted by the construction of the new station overhead.
Work is also under way on a new South Bank entrance.
Over Christmas, a new 350-tonne 22-metre steel and concrete section of rail bridge was successfully installed in a hugely complex operation.
On 20 November this year the station has to close for Network Rail to switch the rail tracks and work site from one side of the bridge to the other. It will reopen ahead of the rush hour on Monday morning, 17 January 2011. Regrettably there is no other way Network Rail can carry out the work while ensuring the safety of our customers.

Train services will run through to the normal timetable and customers will be advised to alight at City Thameslink instead. This is a short three-to-four minute walk north of Blackfriars. Alternatively, Elephant & Castle may be closer for some whose destination is south of the river.

By the time of the station closure, City Thameslink will have been upgraded with longer platforms ready to take the future 12-carriage trains, an extra ticket gate, more seating and new and improved safety and information systems. The lifts have already been refurbished improving reliability and more improvements will be made to help those with disabilities.

When the station reopens, on 17 January 2011, the Paul's Walk entrance will have closed and the only entrance will be via the main north route.