London 'ghost' station found hidden underground after 100 years

Thameslink workers uncovered the long-forgotten Southwark Park station while making way for new tracks in south London

Project manager Greg Thornett looks at the remains of Southwark Park station (Network Rail )

Engineers have uncovered the remains of a “ghost” station in south London that shut a century ago.

Rail workers came across long-forgotten Southwark Park station while constructing the new Thameslink line. It was open for just 13 years, from 1902 before it shut for good in March 1915.

The platforms were found on top of a viaduct running over Rotherhithe New Road, Bermondsey. Original tiling can be seen in the original ticket hall, which was in the viaduct's arches.

Outlines of platforms on top of the south London viaduct (Network Rail)

Southwark Park was one of a few stations in the area that closed down due to the rising popularity of buses and trams and the outbreak of the First World War. It served passengers between London Bridge and Greenwich.

Network Rail workers uncovered the remains during the construction of the Bermondsey Dive Under, which will see two Victorian viaducts partially demolished to make space for the Thameslink tracks.

The arches from Southwark Park’s old ticket hall will survive the demolition, said project manager Greg Thornett. The platforms have since been covered with new tracks.

“We uncovered the footings for the former platforms while we were preparing the top of the viaduct for new track and we are now working up in the roof space of the former ticket hall to fill in the old skylights, ready to carry the final track alignment,” said Thornett.

Network Rail apparently knew that the station used to be there, but were unsure about how much of it still existed, according to London blogger Ian Mansfield.