The Bermondsey Station sign is fixed - but it’s the wrong colour

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

peOple “dON’ T know whether to laugh or cry” after Tfl repaired the Bermondsey Underground Station sign with the wrong colour - and it took them nine months.

A large chunk of the sign had been missing since May 2022 when a lorry reversed into the canopy so it only read ‘Station’ instead of ‘Bermondsey Station’.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Rachel Bentley, who has hounded TfL to get it repaired, tweeted: “Seriously I don’t know whether to laugh or cry having just seen it in the cold light of day. At least it is distinctive…”

While thanking Cllr Bentley for getting it fixed, former Lib Dem Councillor Humaira

Ali tweeted: “@TfL you had one job...yet it’s different colours. The time spent not doing something and then doing it wrong is an exemplar of how taxpayer money can be wasted.”

Looking on the sign’s brighter side, Cllr Bentley said: “It’s not ideal but it’s raised a smile or two. At this stage, we don’t want any more precious public funds spent on this.”

Initially, TfL said the sign would be delivered in time for Christmas but this was pushed back to February.

According to TfL, it had experienced problems “sourcing the glass” that was needed for that particular type of signage.

Speaking in October, Cllr Bentley said the sign’s sorry state was “emblematic of TfL’s struggles”.

TfL has struggled ever since the covid-19 pandemic, which emptied carriages and hit its coffers hard.

Even after accepting a £3.6 billion government bailout, it’s been left with a £400 million shortfall.

Now repaired, the sign will be hoping for better luck in the future, having developed a habit of calamity in recent years.

In August 2021, a 47 bus smashed into it while avoiding an oncoming ambulance and cracked its upper deck windows.

Bermondsey Underground Station first opened in 1999 when it was one of eleven stations forming the Jubilee Line extension through east London.

It has won plaudits for its futuristic design which maximises natural light through its high, glass ceiling.

TfL has been approached for comment.