After five years of development and construction, the remodel and expansion of Blackfriars Train Station in London is finally complete. The station, which previously occupied a small section on one side of the Thames riverbank, has been expanded into a bridge with commuter entrances on either side of the river. The project, which cost the equivalent of over $900 million to complete, is just one of the ways London is striving to become a more sustainable city.
The project, a collaboration between Network Rail and solar installation firm Solarcentury, equipped Blackfriars with 4,400 photovoltaic panels in an effort to increase capacity on the Thameslink route and reduce the cost of running the station. The panels provide 50% of the energy required to keep the station running and are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 511 tons per year, making Blackfriars the world’s largest solar-powered bridge. Additionally, the expansion of the station allows for the use of larger and more efficient trains, encouraging commuters to use public transportation and reduce London’s carbon footprint.
This video, made while the bridge was still under construction, explains how the panels work and gives an inside look at the project.
Photo by Network Rail.
