Blackfriars Station Bankside entrance proves a hit with passengers

Although the southern entrance to the station opened on schedule in December 2011, building work will not be completed till the summer and Network Rail has announced that the Thames Path at Blackfriars will be closed at night from mid-January until April to allow construction to continue.

"There's still a lot of work to do on the southern entrance and we're currently focussing our attention on the west side of the station in preparation for two further platforms to open at Blackfriars this spring," says a Network Rail spokesman.

"We've planned our work so that the south station can remain open while construction continues, however there will be times when the walking route along the Thames Path needs to close.

"From Monday 16 January, the Thames Path will close at night to allow us to continue construction work on the southern entrance.

"The Thames Path will be closed from 10.30pm until 5am, while the station itself is closed.

"The signed diversionary route used during the previous closure of the path will be in place."

At present the Thameslink rail route through central London closes at 10pm while work on the £6 billion project to upgrade the line continues.

There will also be some weekend closures of the Thames Path at Blackfriars; Network Rail says that information will be circulated in advance.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience caused by the closures of the Thames Path," says the spokesman.

"We're working 24/7 to get the south station finished as soon as possible, and certain elements of this work, involving working at height, lifting large loads, and using heavy machinery, can only be safely undertaken when the Thames Path is closed."

Blackfriars Underground Station is due to reopen on 26 February.