Timelapse video shows pace of demolition at site of new railway junction in Bermondsey

Railway viaducts that once carried trains to Charing Cross and central London have been razed in preparation for the construction of a massive new junction on a site in South London.

Network Rail and its contractors Skanska and demolition experts Armac, have been working in Bermondsey to create the space for the new dive under - like a motorway flyover - which will allow more trains to run into London Bridge.

You can watch timelapse footage of the work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAJ7AaMvNSQ

Incredible demolition paves the way for massive new railway junction

The former viaduct will be replaced with a dive under that will allow Charing Cross trains to pass beneath Thameslink services and pop up again on the other side, for a clear run into the capital. Where possible, the original structures have been retained and strengthened to continue to carry London’s oldest railway.

The Bermondsey Dive Under, which will be completed in 2017, is part of the Government-sponsored Thameslink Programme, revolutionising north-south travel through London.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About Thameslink

Network Rail is delivering the government sponsored Thameslink Programme that will transform north-south travel through London. When complete in 2018 it will give passengers:

New spacious trains running every 2 to 3 minutes through central London in the peak

Improved connections and better options to more destinations on an expanded Thameslink network including Cambridge and Peterborough

Robust tracks and signalling offer more reliable journeys

A completely rebuilt London Bridge station with more space and great facilities

Contact information

Chris Denham

Network Rail

chris.denham@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain’s railway – the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts, and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.6bn journeys by rail every year - double the number of 1996 - and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We’re investing £38bn in the railway by 2019 to deliver more frequent, more reliable, safer services and brighter and better stations.

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