One of London's busiest underground Tube stations will shut down for three years to make way for upgrade work to take place, it was announced today.
Blackfriars station, located next to the River Thames, serves the District and Circle Lines and is set closed from March 2009.
Network Rail will redevelop the Blackfriars station complex while the station is shut until late 2011, said Transport for London.
Work at the station will include lengthening platforms to accommodate longer trains and building a new entrance to the station on the south bank of the Thames.
About 45,000 workers and commuters currently use the station to get onto the Tube network using First Capital Connect rail services every day.
Neighbouring Underground and overground stations are expected to face an influx of passengers looking for new routes once the station closes next year.
By staff writer
