Network Rail welcomed the visit last week by the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer to see one of London's biggest infrastructure projects. (see our story New £350 Million Blackfriars Station 17 August 2008)

Blackfriars station is being transformed into a new London landmark. It is the first railway station to span the Thames and forms part of a scheme to deliver extra capacity for passengers and is on schedule for completion in Spring 2012

• At its busiest, more than 500 construction workers have been on site.
• The redundant red pillars in the river next to Blackfriars Railway Bridge will be used to support the new station.
• More than 30,000 of the original rivets that supported the historic bridge have already been replaced.
• As part of the Thameslink Programme, Network Rail is also carrying out major work at Farringdon station, creating a new station linking to Crossrail services, at London Bridge and stations like Luton and Bedford to allow longer trains to stop.

The project will:

• allow longer trains with more space for passengers to run on the Thameslink route from December 2011
• build the first new station on the South Bank for more than 100 years providing better access to destinations like Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe
• completely rebuild Blackfriars Underground station

Network Rail chief executive, Iain Coucher said: "Maintaining investment in rail infrastructure has never been more important. As well as bringing significant benefits for passengers, it is an investment in the future of our country.

"Projects like the Thameslink Programme create jobs and help businesses thrive, playing an important part in keeping London's place as the number one city in the world."