Dateline: 1 May 2011 

Blackfriars Station

IMAGE: The new Blackfriars Station seen from St Paul's Cathedral

 

A New Station

Work on the new station is progressing well. Having completely closed while rebuilding and platform lengthening takes place, the station is now open for trains on the Thameslink line although underground trains are not stopping at the underground platforms.

In preparation for longer trains, having up to 12 carriages, the platforms of the Crossrail lines have been re-aligned and extended across the length of Blackfriars Railway Bridge. An additional entrance to the station is being constructed from Bankside.

 

Solar Photovoltaic Cells

The new Blackfriars Station will generate up to 50 per cent of its own energy needs on-site thanks to the largest single use of solar photovoltaic cells in the UK.

As well as the solar panels, the £550 million redevelopment of Blackfriars Station also features sun pipes, rain harvesting systems and thermal insulation to decrease its reliance on other infrastructure such as water and electricity networks.

The panels are expected to generate more than 1 Megawatt of renewable energy at peak output. The scheme costs £7.3 million and is sponsored by the Department for Transport's safety and environment fund.

Progress with the Work

Most of the work is [September 2011] completed. A visit to the work is possible by walking along the Riverside Walkway in the City of London. You can walk under Blackfriars Railway Bridge and see the scaffolding attached to the large red pillars in the river. These pillars are the supports for the old Alexandra Bridge. They are all that remain of the very first railway bridge ever built across the Thames.

 

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