Yes Minister! We've finished St Albans

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers today visited St Albans station to mark the completion of platform extensions which will allow longer trains to call at the station from December 2011.

Theresa Villiers cuts a ribbon to the new platform extension

St Albans is the third station now ready for 50% longer trains as part of the Thameslink Programme.

The Deputy Mayor of St Albans and other dignitaries joined the celebration at 11am this morning that was reported in the local media and on BBC TV.

In total 12 stations outside central London will have their platforms extended – that’s an additional 4km of extra platform and carriage space (twice the length of Luton Airport runway, or 34 football pitches laid end-to-end).

The first of the longer 12-carriage trains will enter service in December 2011, with more to follow from a brand new fleet of trains.

The minister then visited Blackfriars station to see the progress being made and hear about the eight-week closure from 20 November.

You can view the news release here.