Blackfriars closes for two years

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A London Underground station closes from Monday for more than two years for engineering works.

Blackfriars will shut until late 2011 as part of the £5.5bn Thameslink upgrade project.

The work will improve the station with step-free access, increased capacity and enhancement to interchange facilities with the overground station.

Network Rail said Blackfriars mainline station will remain open during the course of the work.

District and Circle line services will not stop at the station during the engineering work and passengers are advised to use nearby Temple and Mansion House stations.

Improvements to the Tube station will also include an enlarged ticket hall and refurbished platforms.

The work is part of a £350m project that will see Blackfriars become the first station to span the River Thames.

The Thameslink upgrade will see peak-time trains increase from eight an hour to as many as 24, using 12-carriage services instead of eight.

There will also be major improvements to the nearby London Bridge and Farringdon stations.