BLACKFRIARS STATION RE-DEVELOPMENT WORTH A BUNDLE

Tuesday 26 May 2009

BLACKFRIARS STATION RE-DEVELOPMENT WORTH A BUNDLE

Region & Route:: | Southern

Network Rail resurrected a historic City of London byelaw to officially celebrate the start of major work on the £350m re-development of Blackfriars station, today.

In a unique ceremony, presided over by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and supported by the former Mayor of Southwark, a bundle of straw was hung from the underside of a rail bridge span to warn river traffic that work is taking place overhead.

The traditional act by the Lord Mayor is not only a fitting tribute to the history of one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, but marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the life of Blackfriars station as it is transformed into a world-class rail station; the first to span the River Thames.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s director of operations and customer services, commented: “Today’s event honours London’s strong transport traditions and is the perfect way to mark the beginning of major work at Blackfriars station.

“Blackfriars is an exciting, complex and high profile project, and an important milestone in the £5.5bn congestion-busting Thameslink Programme. The new station will provide better services for passengers, delivering more trains, more seats and help facilitate new direct journeys to and through the Capital.

“We are confident that with its modern design, look and feel it will become instantly recognisable and much admired.”

First Capital Connect managing director Jim Morgan said: “This fantastic new station – the first-ever to span the Thames – will be able to accommodate the new-generation of crowd-busting 12-carriage trains we’ll be running on the Bedford to Brighton Thameslink route as they are introduced between 2012 and 2015.

“We are already operating new air-conditioned Electrostar trains and have almost 2,500 more rush hour seats thanks to the Thameslink Programme. Ultimately we’ll have trains leaving Blackfriars every 2-3 minutes north and south with new cross-London destinations on the Great Northern route.”

The new Blackfriars station will be opened fully in 2012, however, longer, 12-car trains are scheduled to be in operation by the end of 2011.

Notes to editors

About the Blackfriars station re-development: - The existing station on the north bank will be completely redeveloped to create a spacious and airy entrance and concourse area incorporating improved interchange facilities with Tube services. The London Underground station will also be significantly enhanced. - By the end of 2011, the station will be able to handle longer 12 car trains for the first time with significantly more trains stopping at the station every hour. - The station will provide the first direct National Rail access to the South Bank in over a century, providing direct access to many attractions including the Tate Modern and the surrounding area. - Platforms 1-3 at Blackfriars closed on 22 March 2009 for building work. All services now operate from the 'through' platforms 4 and 5. - To help passengers get out of the station more easily in the morning, Network Rail has opened a new exit from platform 5 (northbound) to Paul’s Walk footpath beside the river below. River Byelaws 1978 (as amended) - Part 5: When the headroom of an arch or span of a bridge is reduced from its usual limits but that arch or span is not closed to navigation, the person in control of the bridge shall suspend from the centre of that arch or span by day a bundle of straw large enough to be conspicuous and by night a white light. Current: When the arch or span of a bridge is closed to navigation the person in control of the bridge shall suspend from the centre of that arch or span - (a) By day, three red discs 0.6 metres in diameter at the points of an equilateral triangle with the apex downwards and the base horizontal; (b) By night, three red lights in similar positions to the discs displayed by day. (2) When the headroom of an arch or span of a bridge is reduced from its usual limits but that arch or span is not closed to navigation, the person in control of the bridge shall suspend from the centre of that arch or span by day a bundle of straw large enough to be conspicuous and by night a white light.

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