Southwark tube station: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|London Underground station}}

{{London stations| name = Southwark | image = [[Image:southwark.jpg|300px|Southwark]] | manager = [[London Underground]] | zone = [[Travelcard Zone 1|1]] | locale = [[South Bank]] | borough = [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]] | start=[[1999]] | platforms=2 |exits=6.311}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

'''Southwark tube station''' is a [[London Underground]] station on the corner of Blackfriars Road and The Cut in the [[London Borough of Southwark]]. It is on the [[Jubilee Line]], between [[Waterloo station|Waterloo]] and [[London Bridge tube station|London Bridge]]. It is in [[Travelcard Zone 1]] and was opened on [[24 September]] [[1999]] as part of the [[Jubilee Line Extension]]. The station has a direct connection with the mainline at [[Waterloo station#Waterloo East|Waterloo East]]. Confusingly, the station is some way to the west of historic Southwark, which is served by [[Borough tube station]].

{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}

{{Infobox London station|symbol=underground

| name = Southwark

| alt_name =

| manager = [[London Underground]]

| manager1 =

| manager2 =

| owner =

| owner1 =

| owner2 =

| locale = [[Bankside]]

| borough = [[London Borough of Southwark]]

| platforms = 2

| fare_zone = 1

| fare_zone_1 =

| railcode =

| railcode2 =

| image_name = Southwark station entrance, July 2024.jpg

| caption = Main station entrance, July 2024

| coordinates = {{coord|51.5039|-0.105|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| map_type = Central London

| original = [[London Regional Transport]]

| years1 = 20 November 1999

| years2 =

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| events1 = Opened

| events2 =

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<!--

| tubeexits03 = 5.803

| tubeexits04 = 6.311

| tubeexits05 = 6.45

| tubeexits06 = 7.508

| tubeexits07 = {{increase}} 8.521

| tubeexits08 = {{increase}} 9.660,

| tubeexits09 = {{increase}} 10.03-->

| access = yes

| access_note = <ref>{{citation step free tube map}}</ref>

| interchange = [[Waterloo East railway station|Waterloo East]] {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}

| interchange1 = [[Blackfriars railway station|Blackfriars]] at [[Bankside]] entrance {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}

| interchange_note = <ref>{{Citation London station interchange June 2020}}</ref>

}}

'''Southwark''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ʌ|ð|ər|k}}) is a [[London Underground]] station in the [[London Borough of Southwark]] at the corner of Blackfriars Road and The Cut. It is on the [[Jubilee line]] between [[Waterloo tube station|Waterloo]] and [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] stations, and is in [[List of stations in London fare zone 1|Travelcard Zone 1]].

The station was opened on 20 November 1999 as part of the [[Jubilee Line Extension]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The new JLE Station at Southwark opens|url=http://www.londontransport.co.uk/underground/jle44.htm|date=15 November 1999|website=[[London Transport (brand)|London Transport]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303033711/http://www.londontransport.co.uk/underground/jle44.htm|archive-date=2000-03-03|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> It is somewhat west of historic Southwark, which is served by [[Borough tube station|Borough]] and [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] stations. Its entrance is across the road from the disused [[Blackfriars Road railway station]].

Southwark station was designed by Richard MacCormac of [[MacCormac Jamieson Prichard]]. Unlike some of the other stations on the JLE, there was not enough room on the site for grand architectural statements. The entrance building is only of modest low-rise proportions, with the intention being to use the space above it for a future commercial development (not yet constructed).

[[File:Southwark station concourse, July 2024.jpg|right|thumb|The concourse leading to Waterloo East and the [[escalators]] to the Jubilee line platforms, July 2024]]

In addition, the station had to be built under and around the Victorian railway viaduct carrying trains from Waterloo East and [[Charing Cross railway station]] across the river. This presented significant technical and architectural difficulties, necessitating the construction of two concourses at different levels.

[[File:Westbound Platform Southwark, July 2024.jpg|right|thumb|The westbound platform for the Jubilee line, July 2024]]

[[File:Southwark platform concourse, July 2024.jpg|right|thumb|The concourse leading to the Jubilee line platforms, July 2024]]

==History==

The first, or intermediate, concourse is the centrepiece of the station. It comprises a space 16 metres (52 feet) high with a glass roof that allows daylight to enter deep into the station. It is faced with a spectacular glass wall, 40 metres (131 feet) long, consisting of 660 specially cut pieces of blue glass, which was designed by the artist Alexander Beleschenko. The wall has since become one of the extension's most celebrated architectural features, winning critical approval and a number of awards.

The original plan for the Jubilee Line Extension did not include a station between those at Waterloo and London Bridge; Southwark station was added after lobbying by the local council as well as North Southwark and Bermondsey MP [[Simon Hughes]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=23 November 2009 |title=The Jubilee Line Extension and Southwark Tube Station 10 years on |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4216 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=London SE1 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Bob |title=Jubilee Line Extension: From Concept to Completion |publisher=Thomas Telford Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=0727730282 |___location=London |page=161 }}</ref>

The architects [[MJP Architects|MacCormac, Jamieson, Prichard]] were appointed in January 1991 by the Jubilee Line Extension design team led by [[Roland Paoletti]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Bob |title=Jubilee Line Extension: From Concept to Completion |publisher=Thomas Telford Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=0727730282 |___location=London |pages=}}</ref> Planning approval for the station was given in 1992,<ref>{{cite web |title=London Underground Act 1992 (c. iii) (c. 3) |url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/localact1992/ukla_19920003_en_1 |access-date=22 June 2010 |publisher=Opsi.gov.uk}}</ref> with the contract to build the station and adjacent tunnels awarded to a [[joint venture]] of [[Aoki Corporation]] and [[Soletanche]] in November 1993 at a cost of £64 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |date=1995-09-21 |title=Contract 103 Waterloo to London Bridge Running Tunnels, Southwark Station |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/contract-103-waterloo-to-london-bridge-running-tunnels-southwark-station-21-09-1995/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Construction News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Bob |title=Jubilee Line Extension: From Concept to Completion |publisher=Thomas Telford Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=0727730282 |___location=London |pages=210–212}}</ref> Construction began in 1994, with tunnelling beginning in April 1995.<ref name=":022" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2009-02-04 |title=Southwark Underground Station (design process) {{!}} Case Studies {{!}} CABE |url=http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=316&aspectid=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204042506/http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=316&aspectid=6 |archive-date=4 Feb 2009 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)}}</ref>

From this concourse, tube-like escalator shafts lead down to the platform-level concourse. This is a simple tunnel on two levels, with an illuminated glass and steel "beacon" at each end. It is faced with stainless steel panels, deliberately left unpolished.

Built on a cramped site, with its platforms underneath the Victorian main line viaduct between [[Waterloo East station|Waterloo East]] and London Bridge stations, the station presented significant technical and architectural difficulties which were resolved by constructing two concourses at different levels.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":022" /> Substantial [[Pressure grouting|compensation grouting]] was required to stabilise the railway viaducts.<ref name=":3" /> The station opened with the final phase of the Jubilee Line Extension on 20 November 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 1999 |title=Jubilee Line finally opens |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/529006.stm |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

According to the station's architect Richard MacCormac, the design of this and the lower level concourse were inspired by the designs of the [[19th century]] [[Prussia]]n architect [[Karl Friedrich Schinkel]].

Although it is close to Waterloo, not near the [[Bankside]] attractions it was intended to serve, and its only National Rail interchange is to {{Stnlnk|London Waterloo East}} main line station; the passenger usage matches those of other minor central stations. It does however get over twice the traffic of nearby [[Borough tube station|Borough station]], and around three times that of [[Lambeth North tube station|Lambeth North]].<ref name=":2" />

<gallery>

Image:Southwark tube wall.jpg|Intermediate concourse

Image:Southwark tube concourse.jpg|Platform-level concourse

</gallery>

==Design==

[[File:Art Changes, We Change - London Undergound roundel by Michael Craig-Martin at Southwark Station.png|upright=0.75|right|thumb|New roundel design by [[Michael Craig-Martin]] in celebration of the new [[Tate Modern]] in collaboration with [[Art on the Underground]]]]

The station was designed by [[Richard MacCormac|Sir Richard MacCormac]] of [[MJP Architects|MacCormac, Jamieson, Prichard]].<ref name=":02" /> Jubilee Line Extension project director Hugh Doherty called the station a "remarkable feat of engineering".<ref name=":0" />

The upper concourse is the centrepiece of the station. It is a space {{convert|16|m|ft}} high with a glass roof that allows daylight to enter deep into the station.<ref name="UK-JLE-Profile">{{cite web |title=UK Jubilee Line Extension (JLE) |url=http://www.omegacentre.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/UK_JLE_PROFILE.pdf |access-date=28 October 2016 |website=omegacentre.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk |publisher=Bartlett School of Planning}}</ref> It is faced with a spectacular glass wall, {{convert|40|m|ft}} long, consisting of 660 specially cut pieces of blue glass, which was designed by the artist [[Alexander Beleschenko]].<ref name=":1" /> MacCormac said the design of this and the lower concourse was inspired by a stage set design by 19th-century [[Prussia]]n architect [[Karl Friedrich Schinkel]] for [[The Magic Flute]].<ref name=":1" /> The wall is one of the extension's more celebrated architectural features, winning critical approval and a number of awards.

The two platforms have [[platform screen doors]] which are meant to prevent passengers or debris from falling onto the tracks. They are connected at each end to the lower concourse which is a simple tunnel between the platforms and is illuminated by glass and steel "beacons" at each end, and is faced with stainless steel panels, deliberately left unpolished.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=10 July 2017 |title=Case Name: Southwark Underground Station |url=https://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/NotificationReport.pdf |access-date=19 Feb 2024 |website=[[Save Britain's Heritage]] |publisher=[[Historic England]]}}</ref> Stairs lead up to a section of high floor in the central area of the tunnel, from where three narrow tube-like escalator shafts lead sideways (south) to the higher concourse.<ref name=":02" />

One end of the higher concourse connects to Waterloo East station, and the other end to the station's modest low-rise entrance building which is intended as a base for a future commercial development.<ref name=":02" />

In 2000, the station was awarded a [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] Bronze medal, as well as being named [[Royal Fine Arts Commission]]/[[British Sky Broadcasting]] Building of the Year.<ref name=":4" />

==Connections==

[[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 40|40]], [[London Buses route 63|63]] and night routes [[London Buses route N63|N63]] and [[London Buses route N89|N89]] serve the station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/southwark-a4-010622.pdf|title=Buses from Southwark|date=June 2022|website=TfL|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/stop/940GZZLUSWK/southwark-underground-station/|title=Southwark Underground Station|website=TfL|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>

==Nearby sights==

* [[GlobeShakespeare's TheatreGlobe]]

* [[NewYoung Vic]] Theatretheatre

* [[Old Vic]] Theatretheatre

* [[Tate Modern]]

==References==

{{start LUL box}}

{{Reflist}}

{{LUL line|next=[[London Bridge tube station|London Bridge]]|line=Jubilee Line|previous=[[Waterloo tube station|Waterloo]]}}

{{end box}}

{{Adjacent stations|system=London Underground|line=Jubilee|left=Waterloo|right=London Bridge}}

{{Jubilee line navbox}}

[[Category:SouthwarkJubilee line stations]]

[[deCategory:Southwark (London Underground) Night Tube stations]]

[[Category:Tube stations in the London Borough of Southwark]]

[[Category:Transport architecture in London]]

[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1999]]

[[Category:Richard MacCormac buildings]]