Civils and stations

Impressive new photos of London Bridge works

Network Rail has just released pictures and video of the installation of the huge new signal gantry at London Bridge that its engineers installed last weekend.

More than 100 staff took advantage of the extra hour as the clocks went back last weekend to install the structure, spanning 10 of the 11 tracks on the approach to London Bridge.

The station rebuild team are gearing up for a 16-day closure over Christmas and into the new year for the signalling overhaul.

The current edition of RTM, arriving with subscribers from today, includes an update on the London Bridge works and an interview with Laurence Whitbourn, Network Rail’s project director. He told us: “We’ve met all of the deadlines so far, and they remain challenging moving forwards – as you can imagine for such a complex project.”

A video of the works is below:

The below image shows some of the demolition works. The photo was taken about six weeks ago.

London Bridge works timeline

Current stage (stage 1B) (Sept to Dec 2014)

• Platforms K and L (new platforms 10 and 11) constructed, brought into use 5 Jan 2015

Stage Central Core and Stage 2 (Jan 15 to Dec 15)

• Platforms 8 and 9 taken out of passenger use 19 Dec 2014
• Platforms 4, 5 and 6 taken out of passenger use 9 Jan 2015
• Platforms G, H and J (new platforms 7, 8 and 9) constructed
• Completion of new Viaduct from Borough High Street to London Bridge station
• Charing Cross trains will travel non-stop through platforms 4 and 6 from Jan to May 2015
• Charing Cross trains will travel non-stop through platforms 5 and 6 from May to Dec 2015
• Thameslink services will cease through London Bridge on 19 Dec 2014, not stopping until 29 May 2018.

Stage 2A (Jan 2016 to Sep 2016)

• Construct platforms E and F (new platforms 5 and 6).
• Charing Cross trains will run non-stop through platforms 7, 8 and 9 and over new viaduct.
• At the end of this stage the Southern part of the new Concourse opens

Stage 3 (Sep 2016 to Apr 2017)

• Construct platforms A and B (new platforms 1 and 2)
• Platforms 1, 2 and 3 are taken out of passenger use on 26 August 2016
• Charing Cross services resume stopping using platforms 7, 8 and 9
• Cannon Street services will run non-stop through new platforms 5 and 6
• Bermondsey Dive Under completes in Dec 2016 to allow for greater throughput through London Bridge from 2018

Stage 3A (Apr to Dec 2017)

• Construct platforms C and D (new platforms 3 and 4)
• Cannon Street services will run non-stop through new platforms 1 and 2
• New platform 6 is brought into passenger use in Aug 17, for Charing Cross services

Stage 4 (Jan to May 18)

• Finishing works to London Bridge Station, Northern part of the Concourse opens 2 Jan 2018
• Thameslink services will run non-stop through new platforms 4 and 5.
• Cannon Street services stopping at new Platforms 1, 2 and 3 from 2 Jan 2018

Post stage 4 (May 2018)

• Thameslink stopping services resume 29 May 2018
• Cannon Street services through platforms 1, 2 and 3
• Thameslink services through platforms 4 and 5
• Charing Cross services through platforms 7, 8 and 9
• Terminating services to platforms 10 to 15