Elephant & Castle Thameslink station access via shopping centre closing

From midnight on Thursday night, 24 September, access to and from Elephant & Castle railway station via the link bridge and shopping centre will close for five years.

The change is necessary as part of the Elephant and Castle town centre development. When the entrance reopens, there will be improved level access into the station.

Thameslink services will continue to operate as normal at the station during the work and passengers will be able to use the main Elephant Road entrance.

Thameslink staff will be on hand to provide updated information at the station including maps to show the alternative route to London Underground’s Northern line.

The link bridge will also be closed on 15-16 September so that preliminary works and studies can be carried out.

Thameslink’s Customer Services Director Jenny Saunders said: “The shopping centre is the usual route for our passengers to reach the Underground. Its closure may mean it takes people a bit longer to walk but we’ll have staff on hand to help passengers find their way.”

A spokesperson for Elephant and Castle town centre said: “As part of the redevelopment of Elephant and Castle town centre we are creating a new level access into the train station from the new town centre. This will replace the existing bridge which currently links the station with the shopping centre.

“The current link bridge between the station and the shopping centre cannot remain open during the redevelopment because all existing buildings on site will be demolished to make way for construction. There is no means to maintain a route through the existing shopping centre.

“We will continue to work closely with Govia Thameslink Railway to ensure there is minimal disruption for commuters during the closure.

“Once the development is completed commuters will have new and improved level access into the train station from the new town centre from the ground floor of the development.”

For more information about the new Elephant and Castle Town Centre go to: www.elephantandcastletowncentre.co.uk

Photo credit: Thameslink

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