The concourse would be bigger than a football pitch and would have two new entrances constructed on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street to improve links between the areas around the station.
Coupled with changes to the rail infrastructure around the station, the £800m project would mark the final phase of the Thameslink programme to deliver longer trains and more frequent services to more destinations. Passenger capacity at the station would increase by about 65%.
Martin Jurkowski, Network Rail’s project director leading the London Bridge redevelopment, said: “Passengers want more space, less congestion and a station that is easier to get around in – as well as a better, more reliable rail service. Our proposals for London Bridge deliver all these benefits and more.”
Network Rail is consulting station users, local residents and neighbouring businesses before submitting a planning application.
The five-year construction project could start in 2013, with completion scheduled for 2018. Features and benefits include:
Work is already underway to improve the station, with the Shard development funding a new bus station – part of the London Bridge Quarter improvements – and delivering a new entrance and upper concourse for the train station.
The Royal wedding bank holiday weekend will also see the Thameslink programme take a significant step forward, as the bridge that will carry the extra tracks through London Bridge station will be slid into place over Borough High Street.
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