London Underground has begun consultation with the City of London on plans for major improvements to Bank Station which will include significant new tunnelling works. If agreed, work is due to start in 2015 for completion by 2021.
The plans include re-tunnelling the Northern line at Bank station, a new entrance on King William Street and high capacity lifts to relieve congestion and provide step-free access to the Northern line platforms.
The scheme will increase capacity on Northern line platforms and interchange passageways to meet future passenger demand.
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Bank has shown a huge increase in passenger numbers in recent years – with a 43% rise in customers changing at the station and the number of passengers entering and leaving the station up by about a third since 2003.
Work has also started on the new entrance onto Walbrook, for the Waterloo & City line at Bank station.
This will give step-free access from the street to the Waterloo & City line platforms with two new lifts, four new escalators and a new ticket hall, which is part of the Walbrook Development and planned for completion in 2015.
Richard Parry, London Underground’s Strategy & Commercial Director, said: ‘Currently the Northern line platforms at Bank in particular suffer severe congestion during morning and evening peak times, which will get worse as passenger numbers grow.
‘This major project to re-tunnel the Northern line at Bank, making more spacious platform areas, with a new entrance on King William Street and four high capacity lifts will relieve congestion at the station and provide step-free access for the Northern line platforms increasing capacity to meet future demand.
‘If this work is not carried out station control measures, such as restricting access at busy times and non-stopping trains, would have to be implemented even more frequently than today.’
Before the work for the Northern line congestion relief and step-free scheme can begin London Underground will need to secure planning permission and gain a Transport & Works Act Order.
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