Engineers have uncovered a long lost railway station during work to construct the Bermondsey Dive Under, south of London Bridge, as part of the £6.5Bn Thameslink Programme.

 

Southwark Park station, which is perched on a viaduct above Rotherhithe New Road, closed in 1915 after serving passengers for just 13 years. But now 100 years later its former ticket hall and platforms have been rediscovered. 

 

“We uncovered the footings for the former platforms while we were preparing the top of the viaduct for new track,” said Network Rail project manager Greg Thornett (pictured).

 

Work on the Bermondsey Dive Under will see two Victorian viaducts partially demolished and rebuilt. This will allow trains terminating at Charing Cross to ‘dive down’ beneath a new route carrying Thameslink services from Croydon.

 

“We are now working up in the roof space of the former ticket hall to fill in the old sky lights, ready to carry the final track alignment,” Mr Thornett added.

 

Mr Thornett explained that the Bermondsey Dive Under will create the capacity necessary to provide a frequent and reliable service through London Bridge station, which is currently undergoing a £700M redevelopment.

 

Southwark Park station was one of several in the area, including Spa Road, closed as a result of competition from trams and buses and the coming of the First World War.

 

The Thameslink Programme is rebuilding much of the railway from New Cross Gate through London Bridge station and on to Blackfriars and St Pancras. The project team, comprising Network Rail and Skanska operatives, is also rebuilding 20 bridges between New Cross and Waterloo East to increase their strength.

 

(Photo: Network Rail)