NEW TRACK AT BLACKFRIARS UNDERLINES THAMESLINK BENEFITS

Friday 3 Dec 2010

NEW TRACK AT BLACKFRIARS UNDERLINES THAMESLINK BENEFITS

Region & Route:: | Southern

Network Rail’s landmark Blackfriars station redevelopment took another significant step forward over the past fortnight with the first sections of new rail laid to create the station’s new congestion-busting, through track plan.

Widely regarded as the key to delivering the service benefits of the Thameslink Programme, the new through track plan runs along the eastern side of Blackfriars Rail Bridge. It will allow more services to run to and through central London in the future, providing better journeys, travel options and airport links for passengers using the route by unlocking capacity at London Bridge station.

From a project position this achievement marks a major milestone in the life of the Blackfriars station redevelopment because it supports planned work this Christmas, which will see the current track and signalling along the western side of the rail bridge switched over at the north to connect with the new track plan on the eastern side.

This activity will enable work to begin on the western side of the rail bridge, strengthening it with new bridge deck and then widening it with three new rows of rib arches to support the creation of the bay platforms that will house longer 12 car trains.

Lindsay Vamplew, Network Rail’s project director for Blackfriars, comments: “The laying of new rail for the through track plan at Blackfriars is a great achievement for the team on this project. When combined with new roof framework that is quickly going up and the continuing work in the north and south station areas, it shows that real progress is being made.

“There is still a lot more work to do on this challenging and complex project, particularly when we switch the track over this Christmas, but I am confident that it will be delivered on time to the same high quality.”

Notes to editors

About the Blackfriars station redevelopment

· The redeveloped station will be the first to span the River Thames, with a new station built on the South Bank for the first time in 120 years, giving passengers direct access to key local attractions including the Globe Theatre and Tate Modern;

· The north station will be completely redeveloped to create a spacious and airy entrance and concourse featuring improved interchange facilities with London Underground services;

· The London Underground station will 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, meaning more seats and better journeys for passengers

About the Thameslink Programme

· The £5.5bn congestion-busting Thameslink Programme will increase service capacity and frequency on one of London’s busiest and fastest growing passenger routes;

· Will upgrade a crucial railway artery running through London from St Pancras in the north, to Blackfriars and London Bridge in the south;

· It will significantly increase the number of rail services between Brighton and Bedford, delivering benefits for passengers and the UK economy;

· Reduce pressure on key London Underground services by expanding the Thameslink network to include extra stations, allowing trains to travel direct to more destinations (e.g. Cambridge to Gatwick direct);

· Major reconstruction at three key stations (Blackfriars, Farringdon and London Bridge) will improve the passenger environment and act as a catalyst for regeneration in some of London’s most deprived areas.

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About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

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