Station closure

SIR, — May I draw your readers attention to the closure of Blackfriars London Underground station from Monday, March 2, 2009, until late 2011. This is to allow Network Rail to improve facilities there and also completely rebuild the National Rail station

SIR, - May I draw your readers' attention to the closure of Blackfriars London Underground station from Monday, March 2, 2009, until late 2011. This is to allow Network Rail to improve facilities there and also completely rebuild the National Rail station above to accommodate 50 per cent longer, 12-carriage trains which will reduce overcrowding on our busy Thameslink route.

We have learned that some of our customers mistakenly believe our Thameslink route station above the Underground station is also closing. This is not true! First Capital Connect services will continue to call at the station as normal as will those of SouthEastern.

Some, if not all, of the pedestrian subway system outside the station may have to close with the Tube station closure. It will normally be easier to travel to and from our neighbouring City Thameslink station instead, which is only a couple of hundred yards away. Both platforms are fully accessible by escalator and lift and are quieter than those at Blackfriars.

Readers can connect with the Tube at these other Thameslink stations: West Hampstead Thameslink (Jubilee line), Kentish Town (Northern line), St Pancras International (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines), Farringdon (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines), London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines) and Elephant & Castle (Bakerloo and Northern lines). The good news is that the new Northern (London Underground) ticket hall at St Pancras International is due to open within the next 12 months, slashing the walking time to the Tube platforms.

Alternatively Mansion House and Temple Tube stations (for the Circle or District lines) are each just a nine to 11-minute walk from Blackfriars and City Thameslink Travelcard holders can choose to catch the 388 bus, which runs every 10 to 12 minutes between Mansion House, Blackfriars, Temple and Embankment stations.

We've much more information at a website we've set up to keep people informed about the work: www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk

When rebuilt in 2012, Blackfriars station will not only be able to accommodate new and longer trains, it will be the first station to span the Thames and feature a new entrance on the South Bank. There will be much better connections with the Tube and the station will be fully accessible for those with disabilities, heavy luggage or children in pushchairs.

ROGER PERKINS,

Thameslink Communications Manager, First Capital Connect.