View source for London Bridge station

{{short description|London Underground and mainline railway station}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox London station
| name          = London Bridge
| symbol        = rail 
| manager       = [[Network Rail]]
| owner         =
| locale        = [[Southwark]]
| borough       = [[London Borough of Southwark]]
| platforms     = 15<!-- Note: Platform number 7 was not used in 1990s/2000s. -->
| access        = yes
| access_note   =<ref>{{citation step free south east rail}}</ref>
| fare_zone     = 1
| railcode      = LBG
| dft_category  = A
| image_name    = London January 5 2018 (47) London Bridge Station (38813334494).jpg
| caption       = Main station concourse in January 2018
| coordinates   = {{coord|51.5044|-0.0857|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| map_type      = Central London
| years1        = {{start date and age|1836|12|14|df=y|br=y}}
| events1       = Opened
| events2       =
| original      = [[London and Greenwich Railway]]
| interchange1  = London Bridge {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
| interchange2  = [[London Bridge City Pier]] {{rail-interchange|london|river}}
| pregroup      = [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]] <br /> [[London, Brighton & South Coast Railway]]
| postgroup     = [[Southern Railway (UK)|Southern Railway]]
<!-- | railexits1516 = {{increase}} 53.851<ref>This figure was decreased by 2.270 million due to methodological changes. Without the changes, the figure would have been 56.121 million.</ref>
| railexits1617 = {{decrease}} 47.874 
| railexits1718 = {{increase}} 48.453
| railexits1819 = {{increase}} 61.308 
| railexits1920 = {{increase}} 63.095 -->
| railexits2021 = {{decrease}} 13.764
| railexits2122 = {{increase}} 33.309
| railexits2223 = {{increase}} 47.657
| railexits2324 = {{increase}} 50.045
| railexits2425 = {{increase}} 54.686
<!-- | railint1516   = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 2.025
| railint1617   = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 1.986 
| railint1718   = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 7.393
| railint1819   = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 9.506 
| railint1920   = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 10.678 
| railint2021   = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 2.361 -->
| railint2122   = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 5.709
| railint2223   = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 14.058
| railint2324   = {{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 6.270
| railint2425   = {{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 6.980
|manager1=[[London Underground]]}}

'''London Bridge''' is a [[London station group|central London railway terminus]] and connected [[London Underground]] station in [[Southwark]], south-east London. It occupies a large area on three levels immediately south-east of [[London Bridge]], from which it takes its name. The main line station is the oldest railway station in [[London fare zone 1]] and one of the oldest in the world having opened in 1836. It is one of two main line termini in London to the south of the [[River Thames]] (the other being [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]]) and is the fourth-busiest station in London, handling over 50 million passengers a year.

The station was originally opened by the [[London and Greenwich Railway]] as a local service. It subsequently served the [[London and Croydon Railway]], the [[London and Brighton Railway]] and the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]], thus becoming an important London terminus. It was rebuilt in 1849 and again in 1864 to provide more services and increase capacity. Local services from London Bridge began to be electrified in the beginning of the 20th century, and had spread to national routes by the 1930s. The station was extensively rebuilt by [[British Rail]] during the 1970s, along with a comprehensive re-signalling scheme and track alignment. It was further redeveloped in the 2010s to better accommodate the [[Thameslink]] route which provides a connection to [[Gatwick Airport]], [[Luton Airport]] and [[Crossrail]].

The [[National Rail]] station is served by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] services from [[Charing Cross railway station|Charing Cross]] and [[Cannon Street station|Cannon Street]] to destinations in southeast London, [[Kent]] and [[East Sussex]] and is a terminus for many [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] commuter and regional services to south London and numerous destinations in South East England. Thameslink services from Bedford, Cambridge and Peterborough to Brighton and other destinations in Sussex and Kent began serving the station in 2018. The London Underground station is served by the [[Jubilee line|Jubilee]] and [[Northern line|Northern]] lines.

==Location==
The main line station is one of 19 UK stations managed by [[Network Rail]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/managed-stations/ |title=Commercial information |date=April 2014 |work=Our Stations |publisher=Network Rail |location=London |access-date=12 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410040141/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/managed-stations/ |archive-date=10 April 2014 }}</ref> It has a ticket hall and entrance area with its main frontage on [[Tooley Street]], and other entrances on [[Borough High Street]] and within the main line station concourse. It is one of two mainline London termini south of the [[River Thames]], the other is [[London Waterloo railway station|Waterloo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/London+Bridge/@51.5045728,-0.0882424,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487603509c580b6f:0x335af388238f54bc!8m2!3d51.5045728!4d-0.0860537|title=London Bridge station|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=18 October 2017|at=Select StreetView to examine the various entrances}}</ref>

The London Underground station is on the [[Jubilee line]] and the Bank branch of the [[Northern line]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf|title=Standard Tube Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> [[Thames Clipper|River buses]] use the nearby [[London Bridge City Pier]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/river?intcmp=29736|title=River Services Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=14 February 2018}}</ref>

==History==
London Bridge station was opened on 14 December 1836, making it the oldest London railway terminus that is still running.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=144}} It was not the earliest station in the London metropolitan area, as the [[London and Greenwich Railway]] had opened stations at [[Spa Road railway station|Spa Road]] (in Bermondsey) and {{Stnlnk|Deptford}} on 8 February 1836. The completion of the line into London Bridge was postponed because of delays in constructing a bridge at Bermondsey Street. From 10 October 1836, trains were able to operate as far as the east end of this bridge, with passengers having to walk the last {{convert|300|yards}}.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=145}} The station has had several changes of ownership and complete rebuilds since opening.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=144}}

===London and Greenwich Railway station===
[[File:london bridge viaduct.JPG|thumb|left|The original London and Greenwich Railway station in December 1836]]
The original station had four tracks and was {{convert|60|ft}} wide and {{convert|400|ft}} long. It was approached through a pair of iron gates.{{sfn|Gordon|1910|p=187}} Three tracks led into two platforms as a stub end of a viaduct.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=145}} The station was entirely exposed to the weather until a tarred canvas roof was erected in 1840.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=145}} Sixteen columns and fourteen beams from this structure were retrieved in 2013 and given to the [[Vale of Rheidol Railway]] in [[Aberystwyth]], [[Wales]] for use in a planned railway museum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-22706442|title=London Bridge station roof set for Aberystwyth museum|date=31 May 2013|work=BBC News Wales|access-date=4 October 2016}}</ref>

Before completing the train shed, the London and Greenwich Railway entered into an agreement with the proposed [[London and Croydon Railway]] for the latter to use its tracks from Corbett's Lane, Bermondsey, and to share its station. However, the Greenwich railway had underestimated the cost of building the [[London Bridge – Greenwich Railway Viaduct|long viaduct]] leading to London Bridge and was not able to build a sufficiently large station for the traffic for both companies, and so in July 1836 it sold some land adjacent to its station (then still under construction) to the Croydon railway to build their own independent station.{{sfn|Turner|1977|p=42}}

===London and Croydon Railway station===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = London and Croydon Railway (Southwark Station) Act 1838
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to enable the London and Croydon Railway Company to enlarge their Station in the Parish of Saint Olave in the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surrey, and to amend the Acts relating to the said Railway and Station.
| year                  = 1838
| citation              = [[1 & 2 Vict.]] c. xx
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 11 June 1838
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/1-2/20/pdfs/ukla_18380020_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
[[File:Bricklayers Arms & New Cross, Midhurst RJD 91.jpg|thumb|A 1908 [[Railway Clearing House]] map of lines around the approaches to London Bridge]]

The [[London and Brighton Railway]] and the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]] (SER) were also planning routes from London to [[Brighton]] and [[Dover]] respectively, and the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] decided that the London and Greenwich line should become the entry corridor into London from South East England. The two railways were therefore required to share the route of the London and Croydon Railway from near [[South Norwood|Norwood]] (which in turn shared the route of the London and Greenwich Railway from Bermondsey to London Bridge). As a result, the London and Croydon Railway obtained powers in the '''{{visible anchor|London and Croydon Railway (Southwark Station) Act 1838}}''' ([[1 & 2 Vict.]] c. xx) to enlarge the station it was then constructing at London Bridge, before it had opened for traffic.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=26–39}}

The London and Croydon Railway opened its line and began using its station on 5 June 1839; the London and Brighton Railway joined it on 12 July 1841, followed by the South Eastern Railway on 26 May 1842.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=145–146}} It was soon found that the viaduct approaching London Bridge would be inadequate to deal with the traffic generated by four railways, so it was widened by the Greenwich Railway between 1840 and 1842, doubling the number of tracks to four. The new lines, intended for the Croydon, Brighton and South Eastern trains, were situated on the south side of the existing Greenwich line, whereas their station was to the north of the London Bridge site, leading to an awkward and potentially dangerous crossing of one another's lines. The directors of the companies involved decided to exchange sites; the London and Greenwich Railway would take over the newly completed London and Croydon Railway station, whilst a new joint committee of the Croydon, Brighton and South Eastern companies would demolish the first station and build a new one on its site.{{sfn|Turner|1977|pp=176–9}}

===Joint station===
[[File:London Bridge station.jpg|thumb|right|The proposed London Bridge joint station {{Circa|1844}}]]
Plans for a large new station were drawn up, designed jointly by [[Lewis Cubitt]], [[John Urpeth Rastrick]] and [[Henry Roberts (architect)|Henry Roberts]].<ref>{{cite journal | last = Cole | first = David | title = Mocatta's stations for the Brighton Railway | journal = Journal of Transport History | volume =5 | pages =149–157 | publisher =Manchester University Press | location =Manchester | date =1958 | issue = 3 | doi = 10.1177/002252665800300304 | s2cid = 115346320 | issn = 0022-5266 }}</ref> Drawings were published in the [[Illustrated London News]] and [[George Bradshaw]]'s ''Guide to the London and Brighton Railway'' 1844. They show 'a quasi-Italianate building with a picturesque [[campanile]]'.{{sfn|Ellis|1971|p=223}} It opened for business in July 1844 while only partially complete, but events were taking place which would mean that the [[bell tower]] would never be built, and the new building would only last five years.<ref name = Gazette>{{Cite journal | title = A notable station centenary | journal = The Railway Gazette| pages = 966–7  | date = 11 December 1936}}</ref>

In 1843 the SER and Croydon railway companies became increasingly concerned by the high tolls charged by the London and Greenwich Railway for the use of the station approaches, and gained approval in the [[South Eastern Railway (Swan Street Station and Junction) Act 1843]] ([[6 & 7 Vict.]] c. lxii) to build their own independent line into south London to a new station at [[Bricklayers Arms railway station|Bricklayers Arms]], which was vaguely described as a "West End terminus". This line opened on 1 May 1844 and most of the services from these two companies were withdrawn from London Bridge, leaving only the Greenwich and Brighton companies using London Bridge station.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=147}} The Greenwich company was on the brink of bankruptcy and so was forced to lease its lines to the SER, which took effect from 1 January 1845.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=150–1}} The next year the Croydon and Brighton companies, along with other small railways, merged to form the [[London Brighton and South Coast Railway]] (LB&SCR).{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=152}} Consequently, there were only two companies serving London Bridge. The LB&SCR used the unfinished joint station until it was demolished in 1849 and a larger building constructed.{{sfn|Christopher|2015|p=152}}

===South Eastern Railway station===
[[File:London Bridge 1850.JPG|thumb|left|The South Eastern Station (left) and the temporary Brighton station c. 1850 after the demolition of the Joint station]]
The SER took over the second London and Greenwich station (which had been built for the London and Croydon Railway) and sought to develop that site rather than continue to invest in the former joint station, which became the property of the LB&SCR. The SER station was therefore rebuilt and enlarged between 1847 and 1850, to a design by [[Samuel Beazley]].{{sfn|Ellis|1971|p=223}} At the same time yet further improvements were made to the station approaches, increasing the number of tracks to six, which entirely separated the lines of the two railways.{{sfn|Turner|1978|p=23}} Once these extensions were complete the SER closed its passenger terminus at Bricklayer's Arms and converted the site into a goods depot in 1852.{{sfn|Jeffs|2013|p=12}}

London Bridge station remained the London terminus of the SER until 1864 when its station was again rebuilt.{{sfn|Christopher|2015|p=152}} Five of the existing platforms were converted into a through station to enable the extension of the [[South Eastern Main Line|main line]] into central London and the opening of [[Charing Cross railway station]], and in 1866 to [[Cannon Street station]].<ref>{{cite book |year=1983 |title= London Railways Track Map for 1870 Establishment and growth |page=23 |publisher= Quail Map Company |location= London}}</ref> In 1899 the SER entered into a working amalgamation with the [[London Chatham and Dover Railway]] (LC&DR) to form the [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]] Companies Joint Management Committee. Junctions were laid to enable trains through London Bridge to reach the LC&DR stations at [[Holborn Viaduct station|Holborn Viaduct]] and [[Blackfriars station|St Pauls]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=158}}

===London, Brighton and South Coast Railway station===
[[File:London Bridge 1853.JPG|thumb|right|The London Brighton and South Coast Railway station {{circa}} 1853]]
[[File:London bridge station 1858.JPG|thumb|right|The two stations, as seen from the line {{circa}} 1853]]

The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) took over the unfinished joint station, which they demolished in 1849 and opened a temporary station in 1850.<ref name = Gazette /> This was rebuilt and enlarged in 1853–4 to deal with the additional traffic from the lines to [[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]] and {{Stnlnk|Crystal Palace}}. A three-storey box-like structure in Italian style was erected, with the name of the railway emblazoned on the top parapet.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=152}}

[[File:DISTRICT(1888) p143 - London Bridge station (plan).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Plan of the stations by 1888, with the SER's separate high- and low-level tracks, and the {{abbr|LB&SCR|London, Brighton and South Coast Railway}}'s new platforms 4, 5 and 6 and Terminus Hotel]]

In 1859 the LC&DR applied to the {{abbr|LB&SCR|London, Brighton and South Coast Railway}} for running powers from Sydenham to London Bridge, but was refused.{{sfn|Bradley|1979|p=6}} However, some ticketing arrangement was made between the two companies as the LC&DR advertised connections to and from London Bridge in its timetables in ''[[The Times]]'' and [[Bradshaw's Guide|Bradshaw's Railway Guide]] for July 1861.{{sfn|Bradshaw|1861|p=16}}<ref name="Wednesday 1860, p.2">''[[The Times]]'' Wednesday, 5 December 1860, p.2.</ref> This arrangement was short-lived pending the construction of the LC&DR line to [[Holborn Viaduct railway station|Holborn Viaduct]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=191,195}}

The {{abbr|LB&SCR|London, Brighton and South Coast Railway}} also built the ''Terminus Hotel'' at the station in 1861. It was designed by [[Henry Currey (architect)|Henry Currey]], architect for [[St Thomas's Hospital]], and had 150 public rooms over seven stories.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=154}} It was unsuccessful because it was on the south bank of the river, so was turned into offices for the railway in 1893. It was destroyed by bombing in 1941.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=156–157}}

The [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (Stations, &c.) Act 1862]] ([[25 & 26 Vict.]] c. lxviii) gave the {{abbr|LB&SCR|London, Brighton and South Coast Railway}} power to enlarge the station further.{{sfn|Thomas|1963|p=26}} Over the next few years under the direction of new chief engineer [[Frederick Banister]],<ref name=GGBanister>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Frederick_Dale_Banister|title=Federick Dale Banister|publisher=GracesGuide.co.uk|access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> the company built four more platform-faces in an adjoining area to the south of its existing station to cope with additional traffic generated by the completion of the [[South London Line]] and other suburban lines to [[London Victoria station|Victoria station]].{{sfn|Turner|1978|pp=185–193}} This had a single-span trussed-arch roof measuring {{convert|88|by|655|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and was designed by J. Hawkshaw and Banister.<ref name=GGBanister/> During the first decade of the twentieth century {{abbr|LB&SCR|London, Brighton and South Coast Railway}} station at London Bridge was again enlarged, but overall London Bridge station remained a "sprawling confusion".{{sfn|Heap|1980|p=78}}

The chaotic nature of the station at the turn of the century was described in [[John Davidson (poet)|John Davidson]]'s poem, "London Bridge":

{{Blockquote|text=<poem>
Inside the station, everything's so old,
So inconvenient, of such manifold
Perplexity, and, as a mole might see,
So strictly what a station shouldn't be,
That no idea minifies its crude
And yet elaborate ineptitude.
</poem>|author=John Davidson|source=''Fleet Street and Other Poems''<ref>{{cite book | first = John| last = Davidson |year = 1909| title = Fleet Street and Other Poems| location = London| url =https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.95407}}</ref>}}

The South London Line from London Bridge to Victoria was electrified in 1909 with an experimental [[Overhead lines|overhead system]]. It was successful and other suburban services were electrified including the line to Crystal Palace in 1912.{{sfn|Turner|1979|pp=172–179}} Because of [[World War I]], the line to Croydon was not electrified until 1920.{{sfn|Turner|1978|pp=206–207}}

===Southern Railway station===
[[File:London bridge 1922.jpg|thumb|right|The LB&SCR station in 1922 shortly before Southern Railway ownership. The Terminus Hotel is to the right of the picture.]]
The [[Railways Act 1921]] led to the [[Big Four (British railway companies)|Big Four]] grouping in 1923. All of the railways of southern England combined to form the [[Southern Railway (Great Britain)|Southern Railway]] (SR), bringing the London Bridge complex under single ownership.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=160}} The wall that divided the Chatham and Brighton stations was partially knocked through in 1928 to provide an easier interchange between stations. This allowed a greater range of platforms to be used for the increasingly frequent suburban rail services to London Bridge.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=162}}

Between 1926 and 1928 the Southern Railway [[Railway electrification in Great Britain#650 V-850 V DC, Third Rail "Southern Electric"|electrified]] the SE&CR suburban lines at London Bridge using a [[third rail]] system, adapting the existing LB&SCR routes to it at the same time. The first electric services ran on 25 March 1928 from London Bridge to Crystal Palace via Sydenham, followed by a peak hour service to Coulsdon North on 17 June. This was followed by electric services to Epsom Downs via West Croydon, Crystal Palace via Tulse Hill, and Streatham Hill, and to Dorking North and Effingham Junction via Mitcham on 3 March 1929.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=160}} At the same time as electrification, the SR installed [[Railway signalling#Colour light signals|colour light signalling]]. The Southern Railway electrified the [[Brighton Main Line]] services to Brighton and the South Coast, providing a full service to {{rws|Three Bridges}} on 17 July 1932. This was followed by a full electric service to Brighton and West Worthing on 1 January 1933, followed by services to [[Seaford (Sussex) railway station|Seaford]], {{rws|Eastbourne}} and {{rws|Hastings}} on 7 July 1935 and to {{rws|Bognor Regis}} and {{rws|Littlehampton}} on 3 July 1938.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=161}}

By the 1930s, a regular feature of London Bridge traffic was a glut of commuter services all departing at or shortly after 5:00 pm. A typical timetable included 12-car services to Brighton, Eastbourne and Littlehampton, all between 5:00 and 5:05. "The fives" continued to run until the mid-1970s.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=161}}

Both the London Bridge stations were badly damaged by bombing in the [[London Blitz]] in December 1940 and early 1941. The shell of the two stations was patched up but the former Terminus Hotel, then used as railway offices, was rendered unsafe and demolished.{{sfn|Ellis|1971|p=223}}

===British Railways station===
[[File:London Bridge 1 Station, 2026023 075a3fe3.jpg|thumb|left|Central Section concourse before the 1978 rebuilding]]
[[British Railways]] (BR) took over responsibility for the station in 1948 following nationalisation of the railways. They did not consider London Bridge a priority at first, and the war-torn damage of the station remained into the 1960s.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=167}} Electrification of the lines into London Bridge continued during the 1950s and 1960s, with the final steam service running in 1964, when the line to [[Oxted railway station|Oxted]] and [[Uckfield railway station|Uckfield]] was replaced by diesel / electric multiple units.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=166–167}} The very last scheduled steam train was the 4.50am to [[Tonbridge railway station|Tonbridge]] via [[Redhill railway station|Redhill]] on 4 January 1964 hauled by an [[SECR N class|N class]] locomotive.<ref>{{cite book |last= Welch |first= Michael |title= London steam: Scenes from the Fifties and Sixties |publisher= Capital Transport Publishing |location= Harrow Weald |year= 1999 |page= 60 |isbn= 1-85414-214-3}}</ref>

By the early 1970s the station could no longer cope with the volume of traffic. Between 1972 and 1978, BR significantly redeveloped the station and its approaches.{{sfn|Eddolls|1983|pp=31–32}} This included a £21&nbsp;million re-signalling scheme that consolidated 16 signal boxes into a new [[London Bridge Area Signalling Centre]] and a new station concourse designed by N. D. T. Wikeley, regional architect for the Southern Region. This was opened 14 December 1978. New awnings were added over the former SER platforms, but the arched Brighton roof was left. It was described by ''The Oxford companion to British Railway History'' as "one of the best modern station reconstructions in Britain".{{sfn|Simmons|Biddle|1997|p=291}}

[[File:London Bridge 2 Station 2026015 341395ae.jpg|thumb|right|The station approach before the 1978 rebuilding]]
Patronage to London Bridge tailed off from a peak in the early 1970s. The station remained popular for through routes to the City and the West End, but the number of terminal trains declined significantly by the early 1980s.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=356}} The bridge over the station's north end became Grade II listed in January 1988, while Platforms 9–16 (the former LB&SCR side) became listed the same that December.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1385629|desc=Bridge Over North End, London Bridge Station|date=8 January 1988|access-date=16 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1385808|desc=London Bridge Station, Platforms 9–16 (Brighton Side)|date= 19 December 1988|access-date=16 February 2018}}</ref>

In 1991, a "Thameslink 2000" project was proposed that would improve services between London Bridge and the Great Northern lines.{{sfn|Gourvish|Anson|2004|p=314}} It was originally hoped the work would be complete by 1997.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Dynes|title=Faster London rail links planned|newspaper=The Times|location=London, England|date=25 September 1991|page=3|access-date=16 February 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF501883326&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0}}</ref> A £500 million refurbishment programme was announced by [[Railtrack]] in 1999, which would have seen the station complex rotated by 90 degrees, and large amount of shopping space added.<ref>{{cite news|first=Saeed|last=Shah|title=London Bridge station set for £500m redesign|newspaper=Times|location=London, England|date=20 November 1999|page=26|access-date=16 February 2018|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500989906&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0}}</ref>

===Thameslink Programme===
{{See also|Thameslink Programme}}
[[File:London Bridge station new concourse, August 2016.jpg|thumb|left|Part of the new concourse under platforms 7–9]]
The station was comprehensively redeveloped by [[Grimshaw Architects]] between 2009 and 2017 with the rebuilding of all platforms, the addition of two major new street-level entrances, and changes to passenger concourses and retail facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/spotlight-christmas-thameslink-programme/|title=Spotlight on Christmas 2017: Thameslink Programme|work=Network Rail|year=2017|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616130222/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/spotlight-christmas-thameslink-programme/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Slessor |first1=Catherine |title=Geodesic genius: Nicholas Grimshaw brought futuristic grandeur to trains, planes, gardens – and shopping |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/sep/16/nicholas-grimshaws-architecture-eden-project |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 October 2025 |date=16 September 2025}}</ref> [[The Shard]] opened next to the station in 2012. It included a new entrance and roof for the terminal level concourse, and a larger bus station was constructed in front of the building.{{sfn|Network Rail|2005b|p=17, paragraph 2.25}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/uploadedFiles/networkrailcouk/Contents/Improvements/London_Bridge/Documents/LondonBridgeRedevelopment_leaflet.pdf |title=London Bridge Redevelopment |access-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806235154/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/uploadedFiles/networkrailcouk/Contents/Improvements/London_Bridge/Documents/LondonBridgeRedevelopment_leaflet.pdf|archive-date=6 August 2013}}</ref>

This was followed by a major transformation programme known as ''Masterplan'', linked to the [[Thameslink programme]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Somers|first1=Mark|title=THAMESLINK PROGRAMME|url=http://www.infrarail.com/_downloads/presentations/IF14_Thameslink.pdf|website=www.infrarail.com|publisher=Network Rail|access-date=15 February 2018|date=7 May 2014}}</ref>

Work began in 2012 with the terminal platforms adjacent to [[St Thomas Street, Southwark|St Thomas Street]], reducing the number from nine to six and extending them to accommodate longer 12-car trains.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://test2.ice.org.uk/ICE_Web_Portal/media/eastofengland/Thameslink-KO2-London-Bridge-Presentation.pdf |title=Thameslink KO2 Presentation |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211102027/http://test2.ice.org.uk/ICE_Web_Portal/media/eastofengland/Thameslink-KO2-London-Bridge-Presentation.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Through platforms were increased from six to nine, all of which catered for 12-car trains.{{efn|Historically, platforms 4, 5 & 6 served services to and from both Charing Cross station and the Thameslink core, creating conflicting moves and capacity problems during peak hours.}} In the redeveloped station, Charing Cross services were assigned four new dedicated platforms (6, 7, 8 and 9), and Thameslink services to platforms 4 and 5.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/thameslink-programme |title=Thameslink Programme |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> The existing platforms for Cannon Street services on the north side of the station were also rebuilt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/london-bridge-rebuild-moves-final-phase|title=London Bridge rebuild moves into final phase|work=Thameslink Programme|date=6 September 2016|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref>

During the works, Charing Cross trains did not call at the station for most of 2015–16 as the platforms were rebuilt, followed by Cannon Street trains from 2016 to 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/charing-cross-trains-call-london-bridge-rail-station-monday-changes-planned-weekend|title=No Charing Cross trains to call at London Bridge rail station from Monday|website=www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=thameslink_major>{{cite web|url=https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/about-us/the-thameslink-programme/major-service-changes-2015-2018-during-london-bridge-work|title=Major service changes until January 2018|website=[[Thameslink Railway]]|access-date=16 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180201202353/https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/about-us/the-thameslink-programme/major-service-changes-2015-2018-during-london-bridge-work | archive-date = 2018-02-01}}</ref> Thameslink services to/from the Thameslink core did not stop between 2015 and May 2018, when an all day service with significantly enhanced frequency began as the programme of works was completed.<ref name=thameslink_major />

[[File:Offices of the South Eastern Railway in London - Redvers.jpg|right|thumb|The South Eastern Railway's former headquarters in [[Tooley Street]], [[London]], near London Bridge station]]
As part of the rebuilding works, the [[listed building|listed]] northern wall of the terminus train-shed was demolished and replaced with a new retaining wall, and the listed bays of the roof over the terminating platforms were dismantled and stored.{{sfn|Network Rail|2005b|p=17, paragraph 2.27}} Each of the rebuilt platforms has its own full length platform canopy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/7345|title=First new platforms of rebuilt London Bridge Station take shape|work=london-se1.co.uk}}</ref>

The footbridge dating from the 1970s that linked platforms for passenger interchange was also demolished, replaced by an interchange concourse underneath the platforms accessed by lift, stairs and escalator. This required the demolition of brick vaults between Stainer and Weston Streets, which were pedestrianised and became part of the new concourse. A wider route was created through the Western Arcade to Joiner Street and the underground station by relocating existing shops in to renovated barrel vaults.{{sfn|Network Rail|2005b|p=17, paragraph 2.26}} Two major new street level entrances were opened to the south on St Thomas Street, and to the north, on Tooley Street.{{sfn|Network Rail|2005b|p=17, paragraph 2.24}} This required demolishing the 1893 SER office building.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rooksana-hossenally/britsh-heritage-versus-future-enterprise_b_1204776.html|title=How Far Should We Go in Sacrificing Our Heritage For 21st Century Enterprise?|date=16 January 2012|work=Huffington Post}}</ref>

The refurbished station was officially opened by [[Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]] on 9 May 2018. The total estimated value of the project was around £1 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/london-bridge-is-open-final-section-of-massive-new-concourse-and-five-new-platforms-open-to-the-public-as-historic-redevelopment-begins-countdown-to-completion/|work=Network Rail|title=London Bridge is open! Final section of massive new concourse and five new platforms open to the public as historic redevelopment begins countdown to completion}}</ref> In July 2019, the refurbished station made the shortlist for the [[Stirling Prize]] for excellence in architecture.<ref>{{cite news |title=London Bridge station makes 2019 Riba Stirling Prize shortlist |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49015458 |access-date=18 July 2019 |work=BBC |date=18 July 2019}}</ref>

In 2020 the Thameslink lines at London Bridge were one of the few locations in the UK to use a digital signalling system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53141103 |title=East Coast Main Line to get £350m for digital signal system |date=22 June 2020 |website=BBC News |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref>

In October 2022 a rescued Victorian-era church [[pipe organ]], nicknamed [[London Bridge station organ|"Henry"]], was installed on the station concourse. The organ is free for public use.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victorian church organ rehomed in the heart of London Bridge station |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/major-organ-rehomed-in-the-heart-of-london-bridge-station |website=Network Rail Media Centre |access-date=22 October 2023 |language=english}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=George |first=Allan |title=Future for Religious Heritage |url=https://www.frh-europe.org/pipe-up-for-pipe-organs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027052149/https://www.frh-europe.org/pipe-up-for-pipe-organs/ |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=26 October 2023 |website=frh-europe.org}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==National Rail station==
[[Image:London Bridge Station Layout in 2018.png|thumb|A plan of lines in and out of London Bridge Station|right|upright=1.85]]
The station's platform configuration is:
* Platforms 1, 2 and 3 serve trains to/from {{stl|London Underground|Cannon Street}} and southeast London and [[Kent]].
* Platforms 4 and 5 serve Thameslink trains between the Brighton main line and the Thameslink core via {{stl|London Underground|Blackfriars}}.
* Platforms 6–9 serve trains to/from {{rws|Charing Cross}} to southeast London, [[Kent]] and [[East Sussex]].
* Platforms 10–15 are terminal platforms, which serve mainly [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] services toward south London and the south coast

All platforms are bi-directional, trains to London Charing Cross can run from platforms 3-9, as well as trains to London Blackfriars and the Thameslink core. Trains to London Cannon Street can also depart from platform 4 if necessary.

The platforms are linked together by a large street-level concourse, offering a ticket office, retail facilities and waiting areas, with entrances on St Thomas Street and Tooley Street. In addition, an upper level entrance gives direct access to platforms 10–15.

===Services===
London Bridge is one of the [[List of busiest railway stations in Great Britain|busiest stations in the UK]], with an estimated 63.1 million passenger entries/exits in 2019/20.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1906/station-usage-2019-20-statistical-release.pdf|title=Waterloo - Station Usage 2019-2020|publisher=Office of Rail Regulation|accessdate=10 January 2022}}</ref> However, as with other stations, patronage dropped dramatically as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The estimated usage figure fell 78% in 2020/21 to 13.8 million, although it rose in the ranking by one place to the third busiest in the country, behind {{stnlink|Stratford}} and [[London Victoria station|Victoria]], both also in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/2024/station-usage-2020-21-statistical-release.pdf|title=Waterloo - Station Usage 2020-2021|publisher=office of Rail Regulation|accessdate=10 January 2022}}</ref>

Typical services from the station are:

{{Railways around South Bank RDT}}

====Southeastern to/from Charing Cross====
The typical weekday off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:<ref name=SE2021>{{NRtimes|December 2022|199, 200, 201, 203, 204, 206, 207, 212}}</ref><ref name=SETT>{{cite web|url=https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/timetable|title=December 2021 Timetables|work=[[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]]|access-date=6 February 2022}}</ref>
* 16 tph to [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]]
* 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Dartford}} via {{stnlnk|Sidcup}} of which 2 continue to {{stnlnk|Gravesend}}
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Dartford}} via {{stnlnk|Bexleyheath}}
* 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Hayes}} via {{stnlnk|Catford Bridge}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Sevenoaks}} via {{stnlnk|Grove Park}}
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Dover Priory}}
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Ramsgate}} via {{stnlnk|Canterbury West}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Hastings}} via {{stnlnk|Tunbridge Wells}} (1 semi-fast, 1 stopping)
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Maidstone East}} via {{stnlnk|Swanley}}

====Southeastern to/from Cannon Street====
The typical weekday off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:<ref name=SE2021/><ref name=SETT/>
* 8 tph to [[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]]
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Orpington}} via {{stnlnk|Grove Park}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Slade Green}} via {{stn|Greenwich}} and {{stn|Woolwich Arsenal}}, returning to London Cannon Street via {{stnlnk|Bexleyheath}}
* 2 tph to Slade Green via Bexleyheath, returning to London Cannon Street via Woolwich Arsenal and Greenwich
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Gravesend}} via {{stn|Lewisham}} and Woolwich Arsenal

====Southern====
The typical weekday off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:
* 2 tph to {{stn|East Croydon}} via {{stnlnk|Peckham Rye}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Caterham}} and {{stnlnk|Tattenham Corner}}, dividing and attaching at {{stnlnk|Purley}}
* 2 tph to {{stn|Beckenham Junction}} via {{stnlnk|Crystal Palace}}
* 2 tph to {{stn|London Victoria}} via Crystal Palace 
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Epsom}} via {{stnlnk|Sutton|London}}
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Uckfield}} via {{stnlnk|Oxted}}

====Thameslink====
The typical weekday off-peak service in trains per hour (tph) is:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables|title=May 2022 Timetables|work=[[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]]|access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref>
* 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Brighton}} via {{stnlnk|Gatwick Airport}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Horsham}} via {{stnlnk|Redhill}} and Gatwick Airport
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Three Bridges}} via Redhill
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Rainham|Kent}} via {{stn|Greenwich}}, {{stn|Woolwich Arsenal}}, {{stnlnk|Dartford}} and {{stnlnk|Gravesend}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Luton}} (stopping)
* 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Bedford}} (semi-fast)
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Cambridge}} via {{stnlnk|Stevenage}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Peterborough}} via Stevenage

{{rail start}}
{{rail line|previous=[[Blackfriars station|London Blackfriars]]|route=[[Thameslink and Great Northern|Thameslink]]<br/>{{smalldiv|[[Thameslink]]}}|next={{stn|East Croydon}}<br />or<br />{{rws|Norwood Junction}}<br />or<br />{{rws|Deptford}} |col={{TL colour}} }}
{{rail line|rows1=2|previous=[[Waterloo East railway station|London Waterloo East]]|next={{stn|Lewisham}} or {{stnlnk|Ladywell}}|route=[[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] <br/> {{smalldiv|[[Mid-Kent line|Hayes Line]]}}|col={{SE colour}} }}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|previous=London Waterloo East|next=Swanley|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Chislehurst Junction|Maidstone East Line <br/> (via Chislehurst Junction)]]}}}}
{{rail line|rows1=4|previous=[[Waterloo East railway station|London Waterloo East]] <br/> or <br/> [[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]]|next={{stnlnk|Orpington}} or {{stnlnk|Sevenoaks}}|route=[[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] <br/> {{smalldiv|[[South Eastern Main Line]]}}|col={{SE colour}} }}
{{rail line|hide1=yes|previous=[[Waterloo East railway station|London Waterloo East]] <br/> or <br/> [[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]]|next={{stnlnk|New Cross}} or {{stn|Lewisham}}|route=[[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] <br/> {{smalldiv|[[Bexleyheath Line]]}}|col={{SE colour}} }}
{{rail line|hide1=yes|rows2=2|previous=[[Waterloo East railway station|London Waterloo East]] <br/> or <br/> [[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]]|next={{stnlnk|New Cross}} <br/> or <br/> {{stn|Lewisham}} <br/> or <br/> {{stnlnk|Hither Green}}|route=[[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] <br/> {{smalldiv|[[Dartford Loop Line]]}}|col={{SE colour}} }}
{{rail line|hide1=yes|hide2=yes|previous=[[Waterloo East railway station|London Waterloo East]] <br/> or <br/> [[Cannon Street station|London Cannon Street]]|next={{stnlnk|New Cross}}  or {{stn|Lewisham}} or {{stnlnk|Hither Green}}|route=[[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] <br/> {{smalldiv|[[South Eastern Main Line|Grove Park Line]]}}|col={{SE colour}} }}
{{s-rail-national|rows1=3|previous=London Cannon Street|next=New Cross|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[North Kent Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|previous=London Cannon Street|next=Deptford|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Greenwich Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|previous=London Cannon Street|next=Rochester|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[Chislehurst Junction|Chatham Main Line (via Chislehurst Junction)]]}}|notemid={{smalldiv|Peak Hours Only}}}}
{{rail line|rows1=3|next={{stnlnk|New Cross Gate}} <br/> or <br/> {{stnlnk|Norwood Junction}} <br/> or <br/> {{stn|East Croydon}}|route=[[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]<br/>{{smalldiv|[[Brighton Main Line]]}}|col={{Southern colour}} }}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|next=East Croydon|toc=Southern|route={{smalldiv|[[Oxted Line]]}}}}
{{s-rail-national|hide1=yes|next=South Bermondsey|toc=Southern|route={{smalldiv|[[South London Line]]}}}}
{{Historical Rail Insert}}
{{rail line|rows2=2|previous={{rws|London Cannon Street}} <br/> or <br/>{{rws|London Waterloo East}}|next=[[Spa Road railway station|Spa Road]]|route=[[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]] <br/>{{smalldiv|[[Greenwich line]]}}|col={{SECR colour}} }}
{{rail line|hide2=yes|previous=[[Blackfriars Road railway station|Blackfriars Road]]|next=[[Spa Road railway station|Spa Road]]|route=[[South Eastern Railway, UK|South Eastern Railway]]<br/>{{smalldiv|[[South Eastern Main Line]]}}|col={{SER colour}} }}
{{rail end}}

==London Underground station==
{{Infobox London station
 | name = London Bridge
 | symbol = underground
 | image_name = London Bridge tube stn Tooley Street entrance.JPG
 | caption = [[Tooley Street]] entrance
 | manager = [[London Underground]]
 | access = yes
 | access_note =<ref>{{citation step free tube map}}</ref>
 | fare_zone = 1
 | locale = [[Borough, London|Borough]]
 | borough = [[London Borough of Southwark]]
 | interchange = London Bridge {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
 | years1 = 25 February 1900
 | years2 = 7 October 1999{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=207}}
 | events1 = Opened
 | events2 = Jubilee line started
 | original = [[City & South London Railway]]
 | platforms = 4
<!-- | tubeexits06 = {{increase}} 50.980
 | tubeexits07 = {{increase}} 56.954
 | tubeexits08 = {{increase}} 60.550
 | tubeexits09 = {{increase}} 61.49-->
 }}

[[File:London Bridge tube stn northbound Northern look south.JPG|thumb|left|Northern line northbound platform]]

On the London Underground, London Bridge is served by the [[Jubilee line|Jubilee]] and [[Northern line|Northern]] lines. In {{Tubeexits list|year}}, it was the {{tubeexits list rank|London Bridge station}} station on the network with {{Tubeexits list|London Bridge station}} million users.<ref name=infobox_stats_ref_tube_2021/> It is the only station on the London Underground network with "London" in its name (while the NR termini are named, for instance, "London Waterloo" the Underground station is simply named "Waterloo").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf|title=Standard Tube Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref>

There are two platforms on each line and two main sets of escalators to and from the Tooley Street ticket hall. All four platforms are directly accessible from the Borough High Street entrance/exit. There is an emergency exit to Joiner Street.<ref>{{cite map|url=https://www.rome2rio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/london-bridge.jpg|title=London Bridge Axonometric Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=16 June 2018}}</ref>

===Northern line===
The first underground station at London Bridge was part of the second section of the [[City and South London Railway|City & South London Railway]] (C&SLR). The company had been formed on 28 July 1884 with the intention of constructing a line under the Thames from {{stl|London Underground|King William Street}} to [[Stockwell tube station|Stockwell]] via [[Elephant and Castle tube station|Elephant and Castle]] and [[Kennington tube station|Kennington]], which opened on 18 December 1890.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|pp=40, 43, 44}}{{sfn|Rose|1999}} No station was provided at London Bridge; the first station south of the river was at [[Borough tube station|Borough]]. King William Street was found to be badly placed owing to a steep incline towards the station from underneath the Thames, which limited its capacity.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=46}}

When the decision was made to extend the C&SLR northwards to Moorgate, a new pair of tunnels was constructed from north of Borough station on a new alignment providing a more convenient route and the opportunity to open a station at London Bridge. The tunnels to King William Street and the station were closed and the extension and London Bridge station opened on 25 February 1900.{{sfn|Rose|1999}}{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=46}}

The station entrance was originally at Three Castles House on the corner of London Bridge Street and Railway Approach, but has since been moved to Borough High Street and Tooley Street. The original entrance remained standing until March 2013 when it was demolished.<ref>{{cite book|title=Labyrinth: A Journey Through London's Underground by Mark Wallinger|editor=Louise Coysh|page=95|publisher=Art / Books|year=2014|isbn=978-1-908-97016-9}}</ref>

[[File:London Bridge Jubilee Platforms.JPG|thumb|left|Jubilee line platform]]
In the aftermath of the [[King's Cross fire]] in 1987, an independent report recommended that London Underground investigate "passenger flow and congestion in stations and take remedial action".{{sfn|Fennell|1988|p=169}} As a consequence, the congested Northern line platforms were rebuilt during the late 1990s, increasing the platform and circulation areas for the opening of the [[Jubilee Line Extension]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Jubilee Line extension : from concept to completion|last=Eng.|first=Mitchell, Bob, C.|page=23|date=2003|publisher=Thomas Telford|isbn=0727730282|location=London|oclc=51945284}}</ref>

The station is arranged for right-hand running because it is in a stretch of the Northern line (from just south of Borough to just south of {{stl|London Underground|Moorgate}}) where the northbound line is to the east of the southbound, instead of to the west.<ref>{{cite book |last=Yonge |first=John |editor-last=Jacobs |editor-first=Gerald |title=Railway Track Diagrams 5: Southern & TfL |edition=3rd |date=November 2008 |orig-year=1994 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=978-0-9549866-4-3 |at=map 39B }}</ref>

===Jubilee line===
On the Jubilee line, London Bridge station is between {{stl|London Underground|Southwark}} to the west and {{stl|London Underground|Bermondsey}} to the east. The Jubilee line station opened on 7 October 1999 as part of the [[Jubilee Line Extension]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Opening the new Extended Jubilee Line Station at London Bridge|url=http://www.londontransport.co.uk/underground/jle23.htm|date=17 October 1999|website=[[London Transport (brand)|London Transport]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000412040405/http://www.londontransport.co.uk/underground/jle23.htm|archive-date=12 April 2000|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref> although trains had been running through non-stop from the previous month.{{sfn|Horne|2000|p=80}}{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=207}} It took months of major engineering works to relocate buried services in the surrounding streets to enable the Jubilee line's construction.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=201}} A new ticket hall was created in the arches under the main-line station, with entrances at Joiner Street and Borough High Street.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2010|p=210}}

During excavations a variety of [[Roman Empire|Roman]] remains were found, including [[pottery]] and fragments of [[mosaic]]s; some of these are now on display in the station.<ref name=ns>{{cite journal|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14820001-000-boudicca-rampaged-through-the-streets-of-south-london/|title=Boudicca rampaged through the streets of south London|journal=New Scientist|date=21 October 1995|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> The Jubilee line platforms have been fitted with [[platform screen doors]] in common with all other below-ground stations on the extension.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/features/feature49489/|title=Mind The Gap|work=Railway Technology|date=9 February 2009|access-date=16 February 2018}}</ref>

There is a facing crossover to the west of the station enabling trains to terminate here.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/175555/response/438758/attach/3/LU%20Track%20Map.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1|title=Inter Infraco Track Boundaries|date=5 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cartometro.com/cartes/metro-tram-london/|title=Detailed London transport map}}</ref>

{{Adjacent stations|system1=London Underground
|line1=Jubilee|left1=Southwark|right1=Bermondsey
|line2=Northern|left2=Bank|right2=Borough|type2=Bank Branch|to-left2=Edgware, High Barnet or Mill Hill East|to-right2=Morden
}}

== Connections ==
[[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 17|17]], [[London Buses route 21|21]], [[London Buses route 35|35]], [[London Buses route 43|43]], [[London Buses route 47|47]], [[London Buses route 133|133]], [[London Buses route 141|141]], [[London Buses route 149|149]], [[London Buses route 343|343]], [[London Buses route 344|344]], [[London Buses route 381|381]], [[London Buses route 388|388]] and night routes [[London Buses route N21|N21]], [[London Buses route N133|N133]], [[London Buses route N199|N199]], [[London Buses route N343|N343]] and [[London Buses route N381|N381]] serve the station and [[London Bridge bus station|bus station]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/london-bridge-a4-290423.pdf|title=Buses from London Bridge|date=29 April 2023|website=TfL|access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/london-bridge-night-a4-290423.pdf|title=Night buses from London Bridge|date=29 April 2023|website=TfL|access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==

There have been several recorded accidents at London Bridge station, though relatively few of these have caused fatalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventlisting.php?location=701&page=4&submit=Go|title=Accident Archive :: The Railways Archive|website=www.railwaysarchive.co.uk}}</ref> The most serious accidents were:
* On 1 February 1884, the 12:05 pm London Bridge to [[London Victoria station|Victoria]], hauled by [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway|LB&SCR]] [[LB&SCR A1 class|Terrier]] No.71 ''Wapping'', collided with a [[LB&SCR D1 class|D1 tank]] which was fouling the exit from the platform. Two carriages derailed.<ref name=Terrier/>
* On 27 November 1895, a local train hauled by LB&SCR Terrier No. 70 ''Poplar'' collided with the buffer stops.<ref name=Terrier>{{cite book | first = Tom| last = Middlemass| year =1995 | title = Stroudley and his Terriers| chapter = Chapter 5| publisher = Pendragon| location = York| isbn = 1-899816-00-3}}</ref>
* In August 1926, a [[SECR F1 class|F1 class]] locomotive overran the buffers and crashed into a brewery.<ref name=Trevena>{{cite book |last=Trevena |first=Arthur |title=Trains in Trouble |volume= 1 |year=1980 |publisher=Atlantic Books |location=Redruth |isbn=0-906899-01-X |page=34 }}</ref>
* On 9 July 1928, [[LB&SCR B2 class|B2X class]] locomotive No. B210 was in a sidelong collision with an [[electric multiple unit]] after the driver of B210 misread signals. Two people were killed and nine were injured, six seriously.<ref name=Moody>{{cite book |title=Southern Electric 1909–1979 |first=G. T. |last=Moody |orig-year=1957 |year=1979 |edition=Fifth |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd |location=Shepperton |page=37 |isbn=0-7110-0924-4}}</ref>
* On 23 January 1948, a train formed of a [[SR Class 6Pul|6PAN]] and a 6PUL unit, which formed that day's 7:30&nbsp;am service from {{rws|Ore}} coupled with the 8:50&nbsp;am from [[Seaford (Sussex) railway station|Seaford]], was allowed to draw up to the [[Railway semaphore signal|inner home signal]], where it should have stopped. Instead, it overran the signal and collided at a speed of between {{convert|15|and|20|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} with an empty stock which had formed the 8:20&nbsp;am from {{rws|Brighton}} and was waiting to depart London Bridge's platform 14 for {{rws|New Cross Gate}}. This train was formed of two 6PAN units. The train that was struck was forced through the buffers and demolished a bookstall. Two train crew and one passenger were killed and 34 people were injured.<ref name = Crash>{{cite book|first= G. T. |last= Moody |year= 1960 |title=Southern Electric: the history of the world's largest suburban electrified system |edition=3rd |page=138 |publisher=Ian Allan |location= Hampton Court}}</ref>
* On 11 April 1989, a passenger train arriving from {{rws|Tattenham Corner}} collided with the buffers. Six people were injured.<ref name=NSES89>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsers.org/jan-dec-89.html |title=January 1989 to December 1989 |publisher=Network South East Railway Society |first=John P |last=McCrickard |date=6 October 2016 |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626223258/https://www.nsers.org/jan-dec-89.html |archive-date=26 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* On 28 February 1992, [[1992 London Bridge bombing|a bomb]] planted by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]] exploded at the station, injuring 29 people.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Tendler |first= Stewart |title= IRA rush-hour bomb injures 29 at station |newspaper= The Times |location= London |date=29 February 1992}}</ref>{{sfn|Gourvish|Anson|2004|p=350}}
* On 3 June 2017, the station was closed for several hours during a [[2017 London Bridge attack|terrorist attack]] on London Bridge and in nearby [[Borough Market]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/03/london-bridge-closed-after-serious-police-incident-reports | title = Police race to establish if London Bridge attackers were part of network | last1 = Booth | first1 = Robert | last2 = Dodd | first2 = Vikram | last3 = O'Carroll | first3 = Lisa | last4 = Taylor | first4 = Matthew | date = 2017-06-04 | website = [[The Guardian]] | access-date = 2022-09-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170829002758/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/03/london-bridge-closed-after-serious-police-incident-reports | archive-date = 2017-08-29}}</ref>
* On 29 November 2019, the station was closed for several hours during a [[2019 London Bridge stabbing|terrorist attack]] on London Bridge where two people were fatally stabbed.
*On 13 December 2024, a passenger train operated by [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377]] unit 377 426 collided with the buffer stops. No injuries were reported. The cause was found to be driver error.<ref name=RAIBLBG2025>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69415d701d8a56d23b7f0aeb/R092025_251217_London_Bridge.pdf |title=Report 09/2025 December 2025 Buffer stop collision at London Bridge station 13 December 2024 |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch |accessdate=17 December 2025 }}</ref>

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book| last= Bradley| first= D.L.| year=1979 | title= The Locomotive History of the London Chatham and Dover Railway | publisher=Railway Correspondence and Travel Society| isbn= 0-901115-47-9}}
* {{cite book| last= Bradshaw| first= George| year=1861 | title= Bradshaw's monthly railway and steam navigation guide| publisher=Bradshaw}}
* {{cite book| last= Christopher| first= John| year= 2015 | title= London's Historic Railway Stations Through Time |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-445-65111-8}}
* {{cite book |last1=Day |first1= John R |last2=Reed |first2=John |orig-year=1963 |year=2010 |edition=11th |title=The Story of London's Underground |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=978-1-85414-341-9 }}
* {{cite book | first = John | last = Eddolls| year = 1983| title = The Brighton Line = | pages = 31–2| publisher = David & Charles | location = Newton Abbott| isbn= 0-7153-8251-9 }}
* {{cite book| last= Ellis| first= C. Hamilton| year=1971 | title= The London Brighton and South Coast Railway | publisher=Ian Allan| location=Shepperton| isbn= 0-7110-0269-X}}
* {{cite book|first=Desmond|last=Fennell|title=Investigation into the King's Cross Underground Fire|year=1988|isbn=0-10-104992-7|publisher=[[Department for Transport|Department of Transport]]/[[Office of Public Sector Information|HMSO]] |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_KX1987.pdf |access-date=20 September 2017 }}
* {{cite book| last=Gordon|first=W.J.|title=Our Home Railways|publisher=Frederick Warne|year=1910}}
* {{cite book|last1=Gourvish|first1=Terry|last2=Anson|first2=Mike|title=British Rail 1974–1997 : From Integration to Privatisation|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-19926-909-9}}
* {{cite book | last= Heap | first= Christine and van Riemsdijk, John | year= 1980 | title= The Pre-Grouping Railways part 2. | publisher= [[H.M.S.O.]] for the [[Science Museum (London)|Science Museum]] | isbn= 0-11-290309-6 | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/pregroupingrailw0000heap }}
* {{cite book| last=Horne |first=M|title=The Jubilee Line|publisher=Capital Transport Publishing|year=2000}}
* {{cite book |last=Jackson|first=Alan| year = 1984 |orig-year=1969 | title = London's Termini | publisher = David & Charles | edition=New Revised| isbn = 0-330-02747-6|location=London}}
* {{cite book |last=Jeffs|first=Simon|title=The London to Brighton Line Through Time|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|year=2013|isbn=978-1-445-63708-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Ransom| first=P.J.G.| title=The Victorian Railway and How It Evolved | publisher=Heinemann | location = London | isbn = 978-0-434-98083-3| year=1990|ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Rose |first=Douglas |title=The London Underground, A Diagrammatic History |year=1999 |orig-year=1980 |edition=7th |publisher=Douglas Rose/Capital Transport |isbn=1-85414-219-4 }}
* {{cite book | last=Simmons| first=Jack| location = London | isbn = 978-0-500-25110-2 | title=The Victorian Railway | publisher=Thames & Hudson | year=1991|ref=none}}
* {{cite book | year = 1997| title = The Oxford companion to British Railway History | editor1-link = Jack Simmons (historian) |editor1-first=Jack |editor1-last=Simmons |editor2-first=Gordon |editor2-last=Biddle | page = 291| publisher = Oxford University Press | location = Oxford | isbn= 0-19-211697-5 }}
* {{cite book |first=David St. John|last=Thomas|year=1963|title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Greater London|publisher=David and Charles}}
* {{cite book |first=J.T. Howard |last= Turner |year= 1977 |title= The London Brighton and South Coast Railway. 1. Origins and formation |pages=41–2 |publisher= Batsford |location= London |isbn= 0-7134-0275-X}}
* {{cite book |first= J.T. Howard |last= Turner |year=1978 |title= The London Brighton and South Coast Railway. 2. Establishment and growth |page=23 |publisher= Batsford |location= London |isbn= 0-7134-1198-8}}
* {{cite book | first = J.T. Howard| last = Turner| year = 1979| title = The London Brighton and South Coast Railway. 3. Completion and maturity| pages = 172–9| publisher = Batsford| location = London |isbn=0-7134-1389-1 }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.tl2000inquiry.org.uk/documents/cd191.pdf|title=Thameslink 2000 Statement of Case March 2005|publisher=Network Rail|date=March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608140936/http://www.tl2000inquiry.org.uk/documents/cd191.pdf|archive-date=8 June 2011|ref={{harvid|Network Rail|2005b}}}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/timetables|title=Timetables|publisher=Southeastern|access-date=17 August 2017|ref={{harvid|Southeastern|2017}}}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/collections-online/photographs London Transport Museum Photographic Archive]
** {{LTM archive|1998-87420|Underground Station in 1915}}
** {{LTM archive|1998-87418|Underground Station in 1929}}
* [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-bridge/ Station information] on London Bridge station from [[Network Rail]]

'''Thameslink Programme publicity:'''
* {{cite web|title=London Bridge redevelopment|url=http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/London%20Bridge%20leaflet.pdf|work=Publicity leaflet|publisher=Network Rail|access-date=10 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108144442/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/London%20Bridge%20leaflet.pdf|archive-date=8 November 2011 |date=9 May 2011}}
* {{cite web |title= London Bridge – a vision for the future |url= http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/London%20Bridge%20information%20panel%201.pdf |work=Public information display panel |publisher= Network Rail |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120131165039/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/London%20Bridge%20information%20panel%201.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2012 |date=6 May 2011}}
* {{cite web |title=London Bridge – a bigger, better station |url= http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/London%20Bridge%20information%20panel%202.pdf |work= Public information display panel |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111108145746/http://www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/app/webroot/files/cache/London%20Bridge%20information%20panel%202.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2011 |date=9 May 2011}}

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