Bank Station Capacity Upgrade

 

Bank Station Capacity Upgrade

In 2023, a major renovation project at Bank station was completed. This project expanded capacity at Bank station by 40%, adding two new ticket halls, 12 new escalators, two new lifts, and more than 1000 metres of new tunnels. The £655m project significantly reduced connection times between different lines and created stair-free access between the new lobby area, the Northern Line and the DLR. The renovation also resulted in the restoration of some surrounding historic buildings, such as the Hutton Panels that formerly stood at Bucklersbury House and the fire insurance markers that are now at the new Cannon Street entrance.

We began work on the project in 2014, when we were appointed by Transport for London (TfL) as structural engineers to assess the impact of the proposed Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project (BSCU) on the surrounding built Heritage assets.

The BSCU involved a major upgrade of the Bank Monument Station Complex (Bank Station) to provide greatly improved passenger access, circulation and interchange and improved emergency fire and evacuation protection measures. The project aimed to solve the problems of the third most congested interchange complex within the London Underground Network. Bank and Monument Stations together were used by more than 120 million passengers a year, an increase of 38% since 2008. Improving the station was deemed critical to keep London working and growing and is a key part in increasing the frequency on the Northern line.

The works included a new above-ground Station Entrance, as well as improving the layout, scale, appearance, lighting, public realm and way-finding strategy within Bank Station. Further below ground, the project involved the diversion of the southbound Northern line (NL) and the formation of a new southbound platform; the transformation of the existing southbound platform into a new concourse and passage area; new large cross passages linking the newly formed concourse to the new southbound platform and 12 new escalators, 2 new moving walkways and 3 new lifts.

We outlined the Heritage Assets that would be physically affected by the proposals during the Construction and Operation of the BSCU works, both temporarily and permanently. We descrived the history, development, significance and important features of the listed buildings potentially affected by the works and the impact of the demolition works on the Conservation area and the non-designated assets at 10 King William Street, 20 Abchurch and the former King William Street Station. Two of the buildings (St Mary Abchurch and Mansion House) were Grade I listed and required particular attention and care.

The Secretary of State for Transport held a public inquiry into TfL’s TWAO application in May 2015, where we attended as an Expert Witness. Through our report and appearance as an expert witness, we concluded that the impacts of the effects would be minor and not significant. We also outlined any measures that should be put in place to mitigate any potentially significant effects. Subsequently in December 2015, TfL were granted a Transport & Works Act Order (TWAO) for the Bank station capacity upgrade (BSCU) which gave them powers to construct and operate the new section of railway.

In total, approximately 1300 metres of London Clay was excavated under the City of London with the challenge to minimise the impact on existing structures and enabling the execution of the works without interfering in the operation of the network.

WATCH: A presentation from the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) on the detailed design of the proposed tunnels and shafts and the impact the construction is expected to have on the existing station structures, installed between 25 and 132 years ago.

Client: Transport for London