0:00:00 > 0:00:11for the news where you are.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16Good evening.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Work to transform one of London's busiest rails
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Work to transform one of London's busiest rail
0:00:22 > 0:00:23stations is almost complete, and the station will
0:00:23 > 0:00:25fully reopen tomorrow.
0:00:25 > 0:00:31It couldn't come soon enough for thousands of commuters,
0:00:31 > 0:00:33who have often faced delays or had to find
0:00:34 > 0:00:35new routes in to the capital,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37since work began on London Bridge station in 2011.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39since work began on London Bridge station in 2013.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41We're told the pain will be worth it.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Tara Welsh reports.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Applying the finishing touches to what has been a huge project
0:00:47 > 0:00:48here at London Bridge.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50The capital's oldest station has been completely redeveloped.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52The idea is to allow more trains to travel
0:00:52 > 0:00:53through London with fewer delays.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56The Thameslink programme is all about connecting people north
0:00:56 > 0:00:59and south of London.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01This is a transformation in terms of rail travel across London.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03It will take pressure off the Northern line,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06it will mean that people will not have to change onto the Tube
0:01:06 > 0:01:09either side of London - they can travel straight
0:01:09 > 0:01:10through from destinations like Peterborough and Cambridge
0:01:10 > 0:01:13and Bedford in the north, right down to Brighton, Horsham
0:01:13 > 0:01:15and Maidstone in the south-east.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18One of the biggest parts of the project has been to untangle
0:01:18 > 0:01:22the complex web of tracks leading to the station.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27Here at Bermondsey, trains will now pass under and over each other,
0:01:27 > 0:01:27Are
0:01:27 > 0:01:31hopefully leading to fewer delays.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34All of the tracks here at London Bridge have been replaced.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38And the work has been ongoing every single day.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40But some of it has been so disruptive, it's had
0:01:40 > 0:01:42to completely close the station.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44And on those occasions, there have been up to 2,000 people
0:01:44 > 0:01:48working on this site.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51And the project has not been without challenges.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55There have been chaotic scenes at times throughout the programme.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58We recognise that there has been disruption for people while we've
0:01:58 > 0:02:00been constructing London Bridge here, and whilst we've been
0:02:00 > 0:02:02remodelling the track layout and redoing the railway signalling
0:02:02 > 0:02:05here at London Bridge.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08And we thank people for their patience, and hopefully
0:02:08 > 0:02:10they'll recognise that the end product has been something that's
0:02:10 > 0:02:11been worth waiting for.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Some of the work will go on to the spring.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16But for now, passengers will see a new concourse, extra entrances
0:02:16 > 0:02:18and five new platforms.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21And after three years, Cannon Street services
0:02:21 > 0:02:24will stop here again.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27But as a New Year brings higher fares, passengers might not be
0:02:27 > 0:02:28in a celebratory mood at tomorrow's reopening.
0:02:29 > 0:02:37Tarah Welsh, BBC London News.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Strike action affected three museums in Greenwich today including
0:02:40 > 0:02:42the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Members of the Prospect union say new contracts have
0:02:44 > 0:02:46been imposed on them, increasing their hours
0:02:46 > 0:02:49and ending their paid breaks.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Royal Museums Greenwich said that the majority of the "front
0:02:53 > 0:02:55of house" staff agreed to the new terms and
0:02:55 > 0:03:01conditions, which increase the hourly rates of pay.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07Thousands of people lined the streets of central London
0:03:07 > 0:03:09to support the New Year's Parade today, which
0:03:09 > 0:03:11celebrated the diversity of London's communities.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13It's a popular event on US TV networks, but this year,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16organisers were keen to reflect our own culture,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19as well as playing host to dozens of American marching bands.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Sarah Harris reports.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25It's not Chinese New Year until February.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29But for the first time, London's Chinese community came
0:03:29 > 0:03:32to join the New Year's parade to celebrate the capital's
0:03:32 > 0:03:34diversity and spirit.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37We all love to share our culture, and that's why when it's
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Chinese New Year, everyone come and join us as well.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44We say happy New Year but we also say "Xin nian kuai le".
0:03:44 > 0:03:46And we also say, "Gong hei fat choy!"
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Like that!
0:03:51 > 0:03:53The parade is watched by millions of Americans
0:03:53 > 0:03:58as they wake up to the New Year watching breakfast television.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Many of the 8,000 performers came from across the Atlantic.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04But this year, organisers are keen to promote dozens
0:04:04 > 0:04:08of London traditions from across all of
0:04:08 > 0:04:09the London boroughs.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10Clyde, pearly king of...
0:04:10 > 0:04:11Woolwich.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Peggy Scott, Pearly Queen of Highgate.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18Sue Pace, Pearly Queen of Forest Gate.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20It's meeting the people, it always is, like, you know,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22we take this time out, we're collecting money most
0:04:22 > 0:04:24of the time, but this one's
0:04:24 > 0:04:25our little bit of fun.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28So, just going down, saying hello to all the people, all the visitors,
0:04:28 > 0:04:29it's lovely.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30Thousands of people lined the route
0:04:30 > 0:04:32from Green Park Tube station to Parliament Square.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35There were visitors from all over the world, but plenty of Londoners
0:04:35 > 0:04:38keen to get out of the house and support the event
0:04:38 > 0:04:40in the heart of London.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42We celebrate the culture, and what London is about,
0:04:42 > 0:04:43and all the traditions.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47It gives you a sense of pride that a city like London can still produce
0:04:47 > 0:04:52these fantastic events - and it's starting to rain!
0:04:52 > 0:04:54It's the first time I've ever been as well.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Or any of us have ever been.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58So, yeah, we're really impressed, it's been great.
0:04:58 > 0:05:0217 London boroughs took part, with special vantage points made
0:05:02 > 0:05:06for children with disabilities to get the best view.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11Half of the performers may come from the United States,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14but organisers were determined that in 2018, London's unique spirit
0:05:14 > 0:05:15would shine through.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Sarah Harris, BBC London News.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24Now let's take a look at the weather, with Georgina Burnett.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Good evening and happy New Year.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29A lot of wet and windy weather to kick-start 2018.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33This evening, some blustery showers around, they should move away
0:05:33 > 0:05:36as we head through the night and the wind drops off a little
0:05:36 > 0:05:40as well, leaving us with mainly clear skies and possibly even a bit
0:05:40 > 0:05:45of frost in more rural spots.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Probably some patchy fog around as well, temperatures down
0:05:47 > 0:05:48to about 2-3 Celsius.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51So, it is a dry start to tomorrow, but that's fairly short-lived,
0:05:51 > 0:05:55as we do have some rain coming in from the west in the mid-morning.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58That's going to be fairly heavy at times, and a southerly wind
0:05:58 > 0:06:00will pick up during that time as well.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04It does clear in the afternoon, though, so a drier end to the day,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06with highs of 10-11 Celsius, so really, it's still fairly mild.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Some more rain overnight into Wednesday, but drier
0:06:08 > 0:06:10during the day, just a few showers around.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13We've got some rain on Thursday and then a cloudy day
0:06:13 > 0:06:15with showers on Friday.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18So, wet weather never really far away, and really quite a blustery
0:06:18 > 0:06:21forecast for the week ahead.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24That's it for now, we will be back at 10.50 -
0:06:24 > 0:06:25until then, goodbye.