The Duke of Cambridge officially opened London Bridge station yesterday after a £1billion revamp. The redevelopment, which took five years to complete, has created nearly two-thirds more space for passengers and has nearly doubled the station’s capacity.
The Duke arrived at the station on a Thameslink train, before meeting staff and apprentices involved in the redevelopment. The Prince also met the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling.
Mark Carne, Chief Executive of Network Rail said: “On behalf of everyone on Britain’s railways I’d like to congratulate you and the Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of Prince Louis.
“I know that the royal family have always been tremendous supporters and users of the railway and I hope that Prince Louis will perhaps have a flourishing career as a railway engineer.
“I am immensely proud that we brought this wonderful station into service on the very day we said we would, more than five years ago.
“This station has been rebuilt from the Victorian foundations upwards, the team of engineers that achieved this had to carry out this huge project whilst still providing a service for 48million people who use this station every year.”
Today The Duke of Cambridge officially opened London Bridge Station, which has been redeveloped in a five-year transformation programme #LBGreopens pic.twitter.com/brLQZAOXKn
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 9, 2018
The second-in-line to the throne unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion. Following this, the Bishop of Southwark Christopher Chessun and the Dean of Southwark Cathedral Andrew Nunn, whose cathedral is close to the station, presented William with a book, ‘Doorkins The Cathedral Cat’.
Bishop Chessun remarked: “We do hope that he reads it to his children George, Charlotte and Louis. He expressed delight and pleasure when he received the book. When he heard that The Queen features in the book, he laughed and said he’d mention it to his grandmother.
“The book is based on a true story, when The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh came to Southwark Cathedral in 2013. She came to look at the Diamond Jubilee window and Doorkins the cathedral cat was curled up asleep underneath it.
“The Dean said, ‘This is one of your subjects Ma’am, who is not particularly impressed by your visit’, which made her laugh. Doorkins is a real favourite, so much so that some people call her Magnificat!”
The revamp has provided a single access point to all 15 platforms, and has expanded the street level concourse to become the largest in the country, roughly the size of the football pitch at Wembley Stadium.
Platforms were also widened, a new underpass built and a major track upgrade took place.
The Duke unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of London Bridge Station – the station’s new street level concourse is the UK’s largest, and is roughly the size of the pitch at Wembley Stadium #LBGreopens pic.twitter.com/GIOHvOHHft
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 9, 2018
The station opening was the first engagement for Prince William since the birth of his third child, Prince Louis of Cambridge.
The Bridges Choir meeting HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at the opening of London Bridge Station! Thank you @networkrail @CostainGroup for the opportunity! @tbprimary @KensingtonRoyal #community&partnerships pic.twitter.com/Jf4DeM3GG7
— Snowsfields Primary (@SNSPrimary) May 9, 2018
1 comment
I am confident that the redevelopment of london bridge station will make city of london convenient and attractive. I wish a bright future to britain.