Blackfriars Station: Bankside entrance could open on 5 December

According to First Capital Connect's Thameslink Programme website, the new station "is planned to open on 5 December 2011".

Work on the new cross-river station won't be completed until next year, but the Bankside entrance will have a staffed ticket office, ticket machines and a lift to platform 1.

Lifts to platforms 2, 3 and 4 won't be available until the entire station is finished in the spring or summer of 2012.

Blackfriars Underground Station is due to reopen later in December. When it is open, tube passengers with Oyster cards will be able to cross the river via the mainline platforms to reach the District and Circle line platforms on the north bank.

As we reported last week the mainline platform signs will carry the words London Blackfriars (for Bankside & South Bank) after local politicians led a campaign to have the station's new status as a gateway to SE1 recognised in its name.

It is not clear when the Thames Path will reopen or when pedestrians will be able to use the eastern pavement on Blackfriars Bridge once again.