The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has visited Bank Underground station's new accessible ticket hall after the major £700m project was completed. The investment has enabled an increase in capacity and has provided customers with easier access and including the new entrance on Cannon Street using six brand new escalators for the Northern Line and Docklands Light Railway.
The upgrade has also seen two new lifts fitted which offer step-free access to the Northern Line for the very first time as well as better access to the Docklands Light Railway.
The upgrade work has seen Bank station's capacity increase by 40% with the opening of the new ticket hall on Cannon Street marking the final stage of a vastly complex project which first began back in 2016.
The upgrades for Bank station are as follows:
- New, spacious southbound Northern line platform and concourse which opened in May 2022
- New and more direct interchange route between the Northern line and Docklands Light Railway featuring three new escalators. These upgrades save approximately nine minutes off journeys interchanging between the two lines. The interchange opened in October 2022.
- New, faster interchange route between the Northern and Central lines which saw the opening of two new 100-metre moving walkways alongside three new escalators. The interchange also opened in October 2022
- New station entrance alongside two lifts on Walbrook, at the Bloomberg building, which provides easier access for the Waterloo & City line and opened in November 2018
Approximately 550 people worked on the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade programme at the height of its construction alongside supporting the completion of 38 apprenticeships throughout the project. The impressive project also saw 1,000 metres of brand new tunnels dug which included the new southbound Northern line tunnel and a pedestrian which features the two new moving walkways between the Northern and Central lines.
The project has been vast and complex with enormous care taken to avoid the disruption of any of the 31 listed buildings located around the area.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “These extensive works have transformed Bank station into a world-class station, fit to serve a financial district of international renown. Londoners can now benefit from a station with 40 per cent increased capacity, a brand-new entrance on Cannon Street and two new lifts which will deliver step-free access to the Northern Line for the first time.
“London's Tube network is key to the capital's wider economic recovery. These updates to Bank station are just one of the ways I am continually improving London's transport network to build a safer, more accessible and more prosperous city for all Londoners.”
Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner, said: “The completion of this major upgrade of one of the Tube network's busiest interchanges is a hugely important moment for the Square Mile, which is now served by a modern, accessible station with vastly improved capacity. Customers have already told us how the new interchanges are making their journeys quicker and easier, and the new entrance on Cannon Street is set to further improve the passenger experience. It's a great reminder of how investment in our Tube network, which celebrates its 160th birthday this year, supports the growth and success of the capital and wider country and is playing a pivotal role in helping London continue to recover from the pandemic.”
Bank Station is served by five Underground lines alongside Docklands Light Railway, Bank and Monument and jointly create one of the most well-used interchange stations on London's Tube network. It has been estimated by Transport for London that over 100,000 interchanges are carried out at the station mid-week as passengers make their journeys, changing between lines making around 145,000 entries and exits through the ticket gates.
Following the huge upgrade project, the two stations now feature five ticket halls, nine lifts and 10 platforms, further to this, Bank station now has an impressive 31 escalators which is the most for any station on the Tube.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, weekday Tube usage has seen a growth of approximately 75 to 80% with a minimum of three million journeys now made using the Tube during midweek. ‘City' stations including Bank are now hitting around 70% of pre-pandemic levels which is an increase of approximately 33% from the beginning of 2022. Weekend Tube journeys are also seeing an increase nearing that of pre-pandemic levels as major tourist stations in the centre of London are seeing levels in excess of pre-pandemic levels at certain times on Saturdays.
The City of London Corporation, Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said: “I'm delighted to see the major upgrade of Bank station is now complete with the opening of the Cannon Street station entrance.
“These upgrades will provide further step-free access, deliver 40% more capacity and shorten Londoner's overall commuting time.
“With the number of passengers, footfall and demand steadily returning to the City, continued investment into our public transport will be crucial for the Square Mile's and London's economic growth.”
Bank station has also seen improvements made in wayfinding and is now easier and simpler to navigate. The improvement has seen new signage as well as contrast cladding between interchange corridors and platforms. The project also saw a new platform hump installed for the northbound Northern line platform and also for the newly built southbound Northern line platform in order to offer level access from the train and the platform.
