Photos of London Blackfriars railway bridge – the world’s largest solar-powered bridge

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

Now spanning the width of the Thames with station entrances on both the north and south sides of the river, London Blackfriars railway station has recently been fitted out with thousands of photovoltiac solar panels, making it the largest of only two solar bridges in the world.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

[Steam locos at Blackfriars station in the early 20th Century]

Significantly renovated between 2009 and 2012, Blackfriars station first was opened by the London Chatham and Dover Railway company in 1886.

Originally called St. Paul’s, the station (and the bridge) was renamed Blackfriars in 1937, and in 2012 became the first station to span the Thames with the opening of a new station entrance at Bankside on the south bank of the river.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

The columns of an earlier 1864 bridge built by Joseph Cubitt can still be seen running alongside the current structure.  The bridge became too weak to support modern trains, and the decking was removed in 1985.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

Walking along the South Bank towards the new Bankside station entrance.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

New station entrance.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

The redevelopment of the station forms part of the Thameslink Programme, and the project was designed by Jacobs and Tony Gee & Partners and built by Balfour Beatty.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

The new station roof is equipped with a £7.3m solar array  (funded by the Department of Transport’s Safety and Environment Fund) and can generate 600m2 of PV cells that produce over 1.1MW of energy.

The bridge is also fitted with sun pipes for natural lighting and systems to collect rain water.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

Computer-generated image of the station roof covered by 4,400 solar panels. Photo: SolarCentury

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

The station looks very futuristic with its clean lines and blue glow.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

Station detail.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

Timelapse video of the station under construction:

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

View from the station platforms, with The Shard visible to the right.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

St Paul’s can be seen from the southbound platform.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

Station under construction

Scenes from January 2013 showing building works in progress.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge

London, Chatham and Dover Railway company insignia at southern end of the derelict original Blackfriars Railway Bridge.

London Blackfriars Railway Bridge - the world's largest solar-powered bridge 

Discuss this on the urban75 forums: Rebuilding of Blackfriars Thameslink station.

More:
[Railway Technology feature]
[Blackfriars Railway Bridge – wikipedia]
[World’s largest solar-powered bridge opens in London – Guardian]

One Comment on “Photos of London Blackfriars railway bridge – the world’s largest solar-powered bridge”

  1. A amazing project. Views from the station are some of the best in London. A great concept to build the station actually on the bridge with entrances to the north and south of the river. I’m impressed!

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