Crikey! There's a lot going on...

Blackfriars

Major work is about to start rebuilding the bridge, span by span. It will happen in two halves, starting with the eastern side.

Since the closure of Platforms 1, 2 and 3, Network Rail and its contractors have been busy lifting the track and removing station equipment in that area.

This will give engineers full access to the bridge itself at the north end, while other teams work from the south bank. 

You’ll see activity at railway level but much of the work is going to be hidden from passengers’ view as the team renews and upgrades the supporting structures of the bridge below. The brand new station will then be built covering the entire length of the newly rebuilt bridge with full weather protection and a new station entrance on the South Bank.

Scaffolding on the south side of the bridge

Passengers at Blackfriars will already have seen or used the new temporary station entrance/exit stairwell from Platform 5.  That has helped people enter and leave the now much smaller station more easily, particularly at the busiest times of the day.  

Outside the station, though, there are a number of utility and road diversion works needed, delivered by Transport for London and managed by Network Rail, which will continue to affect walking routes. Look out for maps and signs.

Work continues at Queen Victoria House outside in readiness for a new station building

Farringdon

Final finishing touches are being put to the new footbridge. London Underground has also taken the opportunity to use the new emergency exit on Turnmill Street to provide an additional entrance/exit during many morning and evening peak periods.

New Turnmill Street entrance and exit

LondonBridge

Inside the station, Network Rail is preparing to open an additional exit to the bus station, where the large WH Smith store used to be. This will help to relieve congestion at the entrance and provide more space on the concourse.

A sample of the new concourse flooring will also be trialled in this entrance, to ensure it is robust enough to cope with such high levels of use.

Outside the station you can see progress in the construction of the Shard of Glass. With the old building on the site now gone, work has begun on the foundations of the new building and piling rigs can be seen from the viewing platform on the walkway to Guy’s Hospital.

Borough Viaduct  

The structure of the new Jubilee Market roof, at the back of the existing market, is almost complete. This covers the area where some traders will move when works begin on Borough Viaduct later this year.

New Jubilee Market roof

West Hampstead    

Fitting out and external cladding of the new station footbridge continues. Lifts will then be installed for all platforms with completion due towards the end of 2009. That will then give much easier access to the station for anyone with mobility problems, small children or with heavy luggage and will also mean that the existing footbridge get less busy at the busiest times of the day.