Work is proceeding on Network Rail's long-awaited Thameslink Programme, with foundations for the new southern entrance to Blackfriars Railway Station currently being laid.

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The new Blackfriars mainline station will span the Thames, with the new entrance at Bankside featuring a new glazed concourse area with retail space and ticket facilities.

In addition, the Thames Path at Blackfriars which closed last autumn will be rebuilt under the first span of the railway bridge.

The Thameslink Programme has added 92 new air-conditioned Electrostar carriages to the train fleet to reduce overcrowding in the rush hour and aims to have a train through central London every two to three minutes by the end of 2015.

Jim Crawford, programme director of Thameslink, hailed the work on the south station as an important milestone in the redevelopment of Blackfriars.

"The speed and efficiency of construction is fast changing the shape of the station, with exciting progress visible on a daily basis," he said.

Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2011.