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| London Bridge station reopens platforms in £1bn project | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| One of Britain's busiest railways stations has almost doubled its passenger capacity with the reopening of five platforms. | |
| London Bridge will now serve 96 million people a year, up from about 50 million. | London Bridge will now serve 96 million people a year, up from about 50 million. |
| The works form part of a £1bn redevelopment of the capital's oldest station, which opened in 1836. | The works form part of a £1bn redevelopment of the capital's oldest station, which opened in 1836. |
| Network Rail said the project, which was started in 2013, was a "shining example" of investment. | Network Rail said the project, which was started in 2013, was a "shining example" of investment. |
| Unions have said "greedy" private companies will make money out of the station, which it says has suffered "life-threatening chaos" due to overcrowding at rush hour. | Unions have said "greedy" private companies will make money out of the station, which it says has suffered "life-threatening chaos" due to overcrowding at rush hour. |
| Passengers had access to all 15 platforms for the first time earlier as the final section of a new concourse opened. | Passengers had access to all 15 platforms for the first time earlier as the final section of a new concourse opened. |
| Engineers have remodelled tracks to help reduce delays and allow for more trains, and Thameslink services at the station are set to increase to 18 trains per hour from May. | Engineers have remodelled tracks to help reduce delays and allow for more trains, and Thameslink services at the station are set to increase to 18 trains per hour from May. |
| Network Rail hopes the opening of 90 new retail units will also make the station an attractive place to spend time, "like London St Pancras". | Network Rail hopes the opening of 90 new retail units will also make the station an attractive place to spend time, "like London St Pancras". |
| An initial aim for 24 trains an hour to run through the station by the end of 2018 was recently pushed back to December 2019. | An initial aim for 24 trains an hour to run through the station by the end of 2018 was recently pushed back to December 2019. |
| Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said the opening is "a shining example of the investment we are making in the railway". | Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said the opening is "a shining example of the investment we are making in the railway". |
| The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said private companies will make money out of the taxpayer-funded project. | The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said private companies will make money out of the taxpayer-funded project. |
| Its general secretary Mick Cash added: "The financial beneficiaries will be the greedy private train companies who jack up fares and max out profits and leave the passenger holding the bill for investment. | Its general secretary Mick Cash added: "The financial beneficiaries will be the greedy private train companies who jack up fares and max out profits and leave the passenger holding the bill for investment. |
| "It's a racket and reinforces our case for public ownership of the whole railway." | "It's a racket and reinforces our case for public ownership of the whole railway." |