London Bridge rail station

London Bridge is the oldest station in London: it was first opened in 1836. Today it serves over 42 million people every year. The station originated as two stations and this is still apparent in the combination of through and terminal platforms which make up the station.

The through platforms lie on the North Kent and South East London Routes into Charing Cross and Cannon Street station. The remainder of the station is the terminus for routes from Sussex and South London.

The station also serves the Thameslink service which connects Bedford with Brighton. This is the first of the so called "cross rail" services. (There are curently plans to create an east-west Crossrail service to connect Essex with Middlesex/Berkshire.)

Below the station is an underground station which serves the Jubilee Line (1999 extension) and Northern Line (City branch).

The station site is currently being reviewed and evaluated for the planned London Bridge Tower[?].

The station has many tourist attractions near by: The London Dungeon, Southwark Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Vinopolis, Monument and the Thames river path way. (part of the "London Jubilee Walk")

Also handy for the: Hayes Galleria, GLA building (or City Hall), Butler's Wharf, Shad Thames, St Saviours Dock, Guy's Hospital, Tate Modern (10 mins walk)

Railway Chronology

• London and Greenwich Railway (later South East Railway) station opened 14 December 1836.
• London and Croydon Railway (later London Brighton and South Coast Railway) station opened 5 June 1839.
• Joint station opened July 1844; demolished in 1850.
• New SER and LBSCR stations open on 3 Jan 1851.
• LBSCR station demolished and rebuilt in 1853; extended in 1866. (present station)
• Original London and Greenwich platforms demolished and new high-level through platforms opened 11 January 1864.
• Station unified by the Southern Region 1928.
• Large scale rebuilding by British Rail opened 15 September 1978.
• Terminus Hotel opened 1861; purchased by the LBSCR for offices in 1893; demolished 1941.

Station design

• 1839 L&CR station wooden trussed pitched roof, one span 56ft by212ft, designed by J. Gibbs(?)
• 1866 LBSCR station, one span, trussed arch roof, 88ft by 655ft, designed by J. Hawkshaw / F.D. Banister.
• 1978 redevelopment by British Rail Southern Region Regional Architect N.G.T. Wikeley

Nearest railway stations:

• Cannon Street station
• Blackfriars station[?]
• Waterloo station
• Elephant and Castle Station

Nearest London Underground Stations:

• London Bridge
• Borough
• Monument
• Southwark
• Elephant and Castle