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BLÜCHER® EuroPipe and BLÜCHER® Drain Roof on Blackfriars railway bridge project
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The first bridge was opened in 1864 and was designed by Joseph Cubitt for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. Massive abutments at each end carried the railway’s insignia, preserved and restored on the south side. Following the formation of the Southern Railway in 1924, inter-city and continental services were concentrated on Waterloo, and St Paul’s Station became a local and suburban stop. For this reason, the use of the original bridge gradually declined.
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It eventually became too weak to support modern trains, and was therefore removed in 1985 – all that remains is a series of columns crossing the Thames and the southern abutment, which is a Grade II listed structure.
The second bridge, built slightly further downstream (to the east), was originally called St Paul’s Railway Bridge and opened in 1886. It was designed by John Wolfe-Barry and Henry Marc Brunel and is made of wrought iron. It was built by Lucas & Aird. When St Paul’s railway station changed its name to Blackfriars in 1937 the bridge name changed as well.
Work on the new refurbishment initially started back in Spring 2010 when Balfour Beatty set about creating the foundation work on the bridge.
Following the refurbishment and a multi-million pound refit, which includes extending the platform, partially supported by the 1864 bridge piers, Blackfriars bridge will be the first station in London to span the Thames.
But it’s not just the first station to span the Thames, there are also a number of other first’s that the bridge will take.
When complete in 2012, the Victorian bridge will play host to some 6,000 square metres of photovoltaic (PV) panels, making it London’s largest solar array. Further green initiatives include the installation of 200mm BLÜCHER® EuroPipe as part of the rain harvesting systems, all of which will significantly contribute to Network Rail’s plans to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent per passenger kilometre by 2020.
The bridge will be the first installation of the latest range of Rainwater outlets from BLÜCHER UK Ltd. Based on innovative design the siphonic rainwater outlets will drain rainfall to supply toilets and wash down areas
Terry Thorne of Thorne Rainwater Systems who are one of the UK leaders in Syphonic Roof Drainage Systems commented: “This was a prestigious project for Thorne. We found BLÜCHER® EuroPipe offered the performance and durability of a traditional metallic system with the light weight and ease of installation associated with push fit systems. The close working relationship between Thorne, Balfour Beatty and BLÜCHER was a key factor in ensuring a timely delivery of the project.”
Lindsay Vamplew, Network Rail’s project director for Blackfriars, said: “The refurbishment will make the station a template for green stations around the world”.
Due for completion in early 2012, the new Blackfriars station will be capable of dealing with three times as many trains and passengers as it does today.
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