Circle and District line trains are now stopping at the station and there are better connections to rail services.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who toured the station yesterday, said: 'With its magnificent ticket hall, brand new lifts and escalators, and more than double the previous capacity, the rebirth of this central London station will improve the journeys of thousands of passengers every single day.
'An incredible amount of hard work and expertise has been invested in these improvements, and Blackfriars is now set to become a truly world-class station.'"
- The Tube is back at Blackfriars after extensive improvements
- Blackfriars' new station entrance has opened on the South Bank
- A new entrance has opened on the north bank
The Tube is back!
The Tube is back at Blackfriars, restoring the link with the District and Circle lines that closed in March 2009. After extensive improvements, there is a larger, street-level ticket hall, with new and improved access through lifts and escalators to widened platforms. You gain access through the fantastic new steel and glass north bank common entrance.
Revealed: The new Tube platforms at Blackfriars
South Bank entrance
If you work south of the river or want to visit The Globe or Tate Modern, the new South Bank station entrance (above) will really speed your journey. Although work continues behind many hoardings, it has a staffed ticket office, ticket machines and a lift to platform 1. It opened on 5 December 2011.
A word of advice, though: lifts to platform 2, 3 and 4 aren't planned to open from this new entrance until the entire station is finished, in spring/summer 2012.
Ticket holders will be able to use the station bridge to cross the river but if you are using a Pay As You Go Oyster card you must catch a train from Blackfriars with either National Rail or London Underground to avoid a penalty fare.
Thames Path reopened
The Thames Path along the South Bank underneath Blackfriars rail bridge also re-opened on 5 December. Due to ongoing construction work, occasional short-term or overnight closures of the path will be required over the coming months. We'll make sure these closures are well signposted and advertised in advance.
New north bank station entrance
Blackfriars' new glazed north station entrance (above) also came into operation on 12 December 2011. It is open between 6am and 8pm Mondays-Fridays.
Inside the new north bank entrance is the new Tube station ticket office and a doorway through to stairs to National Rail platforms 1 and 2.
Travelling to and from Blackfriars station on the north bank
Use the new north bank entrance between 6am and 8pm if travelling west, north along New Bridge Street or east along Queen Victoria Street.
Travelling east from Blackfriars station on the north bank
You can also use the Queen Victoria Street exit via the Mermaid link on the north side of the station if heading east. This is also your route out of the station when the new north bank entrance is closed.
Travelling south from Blackfriars station
Use the new south entrance.
Please note: the National Rail station will be finished in the spring/summer 2012. This means that the escalators and lifts to the National Rail platforms won't be available in the north station in December 2011 and to reach the First Capital Connect ticket office, which will not have moved at this stage, you will need to take the stairs up to platform 1 and double back on yourself to reach the old station concourse.
