City Thameslink station in central London will close for more than seven months next year as part of a major escalator replacement programme. The station will shut from May 17 until late December 2027 while ten new escalators are installed.
The current escalators are at the end of their operational life after more than 35 years in service. Recent flooding has accelerated their deterioration, according to Network Rail. The government body added that the upgrades will give customers more reliable journeys in the long term.
Closure details and alternative routes
During the closure, Thameslink trains will continue to run as normal but will not call at the station, which typically sees around 7.6 million passengers each year. Network Rail explained that a full closure is the "quickest, most efficient" way to complete the work and will reduce the overall duration of the project, as opposed to carrying out the work in stages while keeping the station open.
Passengers have been told they will need to use London Blackfriars station, a few minutes' walk away, as an alternative station during the upgrade. An information campaign will get underway in the New Year to ensure passengers have all the information they need to plan alternative routes. Extra staff will be on hand during the closure to help customers complete their journeys and manage increased passenger flows.
Official statements on the project
Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex Route Director for Network Rail, said: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have looked long and hard at every possible option and, although none of them are without impact, a single closure is the least disruptive and most efficient way to carry out this vital work."
"When City Thameslink reopens in December 2027, customers will benefit from completely renewed escalators, designed to provide safer, more dependable and accessible journeys through this important station on our network," she added.
Natasha Grice, Customer Excellence Director for Thameslink, said: "Over the coming months and throughout the closure period we'll be working closely with customers, local businesses and the wider community to help people plan ahead and stay informed."
Related station changes
The news comes after it was announced another of London's busiest Tube stations will become exit-only on weekends and bank holidays from early next year. Angel station in Islington, which handles almost 12 million passengers a year, will introduce the restrictions from January 2. The move comes as engineers grapple with repairs to the station's 35-year-old escalators, which include the longest on the London Underground network.
