Rail passengers arriving into London Bridge next Monday will get the first glimpse of a huge new concourse beneath the platforms, built as part of an ongoing upgrade to the station.

 

When fully open in 2018 the concourse will be larger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium and increase capacity by 65%.

 

Passengers from Kent and South East London will arrive into London Bridge next week on newly opened platforms seven through nine. The station upgrade is being carried out to accommodate an increase in passengers following the Thameslink upgrade, which is set to see 18 trains an hour run in each direction between London Bridge and St Pancras International.

 

Network Rail’s Thameslink programme director Simon Blanchflower said: “This is a major milestone for passengers, who will be able to experience the brand new concourse and facilities for the first time. 

 

“There is still work for us to do and I would like to thank passengers for their patience as we rebuild London Bridge.”

 

Elsewhere in the capital the last of the major Crossrail contracts has been signed, for a maintenance facility at Plumstead. More than 100 contracts have been awarded in what has been one of the UK's largest ever procurement programmes, covering tunnelling, station construction and railway systems.

 

And more than 50,000 journeys were completed on the first new ‘Night Tube’ services last Friday on the Central and Victoria lines of the London Underground. Among the busiest stations were Oxford Circus and Stratford. 

 

Transport for London says that demand for Tube services has soared over the last 16 years with passenger numbers on Friday and Saturday nights up around 70%. Overnight services on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines will begin this autumn.

 

Night Tube services were due to begin last September but the programme was postponed following strike action from unions.

 

(Photo: Network Rail)