Blackfriars station, London’s answer to the proverbial chicken crossing the road, has a rich history since its establishment in 1864 on the southern bank of the Thames.
Since then, it has crossed over to the other side of the river, undergone several name changes, switched bridges, and seen continuous alterations to its railway services.
It’s also been dubbed the most beautiful train station in the whole city by TimeOut.
Now, it straddles both banks of the Thames, and falls within both the EC4V and SE1 postcodes.
The station, famed for its breathtaking view up the river, also boasts unexpected features like its station entrances.
While Blackfriars primarily had entrances only on the northern bank, since 2011, it also has an entrance on the southern bank.
This was a key element of the station’s refurbishment as part of the Thameslink Programme, a £7 billion nine-year project aimed at modernising the then-underperforming cross-London Thameslink railway line.
Today, we reap the benefits of the 242 metre-long 12 carriage trains.
Before 2009, Blackfriars could only accommodate trains up to eight carriages long, necessitating longer platforms and more space to cater to increased demand.
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