LONDON BRIDGE station has been ceremonially opened by Prince William, to mark the conclusion of a £1 billion upgrade which has taken five years complete.

The Prince arrived by train and was greeted by transport secretary Chris Grayling, Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne and Network Rail’s programme director for Thameslink, Simon Blanchflower.

Prince William unveiled a plaque at the station, which has been completely rebuilt with a much larger concourse. All 15 platforms were also upgraded as part of the scheme.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: ““Today, we are indebted to the thousands of men and women who have built a modern, accessible and iconic station fit for London’s future, and the patience of passengers who will now see a transformation in their journeys.

“Thanks to government-sponsored investment, London Bridge station will be the beating heart of the Thameslink, offering thousands of commuters more frequent and reliable services, with modern new trains using pioneering world-first technology to enable better journeys across the entire route.

“It is my honour to welcome the Duke of Cambridge to London Bridge station to officially declare it open.”

Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne added: “This station has been rebuilt from its Victorian foundations upwards by a team of engineers while still providing a service for the 48 million people who use the station every year to deliver it on the very day we said we would five years ago.

“This is a station that represents a transformation in passenger experience, a catalyst for economic growth and a world first in the use of Digital Railway technology demonstrating our vision of the future.

“I give my thanks to the great people and great teams behind this fantastic project, as well as to our customers for their patience and understanding during these major works.”