 The station was opened on 30 May 1870 by the DR ( now the District line ) when the railway extended its line from Westminster to Blackfriars . The construction of the new section of the DR was planned in conjunction with the building of the Victoria Embankment and was achieved by the cut and cover method of roofing over a trench . Due to its proximity to the South Eastern Railway 's Charing Cross station , the station was originally called Charing Cross . 
