UK: The Bank branch of London Underground’s Northern Line reopened on May 16 after a 17-week closure as part of a complex £700m project to provide a 40% increase in capacity at Bank station.
The interlinked Bank and Monument station complex in the heart of the City of London is used by more than 120 million passengers in a normal year, making it the third busiest interchange on the Underground network.
‘It is labyrinthine layout can be confusing and time-consuming to navigate’, said Stuart Harvey, Chief Capital Officer at Transport for London,
Following an innovative contractor engagement procurement process, Dragados was appointed as design and build contractor for the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project in 2013, and main works began in April 2016.
AECOM was the lead design consultant, WilkinsonEyre developed the designs through concept and detail stages, Robert Bird Group provided civil and structural engineering services, Dr Sauer & Partners designed the tunnels and shafts, CPC provided project management services, Byrne Brothers and Keltbray acted as subcontractors and Bentley supplied its ProjectWise connected data environment which was used by 425 people from more than 30 different companies.
A new southbound running tunnel has been built and was linked to the existing line during the closure, enabling the conversion of the former southbound platform into a concourse to provide more space.
Further improvements to be completed later this year will provide step-free access to the Northern Line and improved access to the Docklands Light Railway, two new moving walkways, 12 escalators and two lifts. There will also be more direct routes within the station and a new entrance on Cannon Street.
The closure of the Bank branch was used as an opportunity to carry out work at other stations including London Bridge, Borough and Elephant & Castle.
This included enabling works for the future Elephant & Castle station modernisation, which is to be funded by the Greater London Authority, London Borough of Southwark and local developers. A prior information notice has been published for the design and construction of passenger tunnels which will connect the existing platforms to a new station box to be built by property developer Elephant & Castle Development UK Ltd, and civil works associated with the completion of the box.
