Several initiatives will make life easier for passengers. The Thameslink Programme will deliver more trains, new direct journey opportunities and longer trains across the Thameslink route. This will allow more people to access London Bridge and help the area's growth.
Network Rail will improve the old Victorian track layout around the station, constructing a new two track viaduct will be over Borough Market, easing congestion and enabling more trains to travel north-south through London during peak times.
The market below will continue as usual when work begins in 2009 with a number of stalls being moved to the newly covered Jubilee Market area on the northern side of the viaduct.
Commuters will notice some immediate changes to the station layout as work on the Shard London Bridge picks up pace. Consessions such as Boots have already made way for construction to the south of the main concourse, while others retail units will be removed by May 2009 to increase the number of gates to platforms and improve passenger access. This work is financed by the Sellar Property Group as part of their collaboration with Network Rail to minimalise effects of construction on commuters.
In the station itself works are extensive and won't start until 2013. A completely new, modern station and track layout are planned planned. This will be delivered in phases, keeping the station operational throughout construction. The works will remove key bottlenecks, increase the number of through platforms, improve passenger facilities, and significantly increase passenger capacity at the station.
The track layout work will begin after the Olympics, and is planned to be completed by the end of 2015. However, Network Rail will be looking to deliver any quick wins that we can for passengers, and work may well start before the Olympics to upgrade station facilities.
For more details see www.networkrail.co.uk
