Northern Line Bank branch reopened by Mayor
THE BANK branch of London Underground’s Northern Line was reopened by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on May 16, following a 17-week closure to allow a series of upgrades to be carried out along the route.
A new Northern Line tunnel and passenger concourse at Bank Underground station has been created, along with a new southbound Northern line platform for the station, to create additional capacity on the busy route.
Three new passageways have also been built to make moving around the station quicker and easier for passengers.
Transport for London states that Bank station will see its capacity increased by 40% when upgrade work is finished later in the year. Improvements still to be completed at the station include the provision of step-free access to the Northern line, improved access to the Docklands Light Railway platforms, two new moving walkways, 12 new escalators, and two new lifts. There will also be more direct routes within the station and a new entrance on Cannon Street.
Speaking about the reopening of the branch, Mr Khan said: “Today marks the first in a series of transport milestones for our city. The Northern line has fully reopened to customers, on schedule and to budget after the successful completion of the latest phase of vital upgrade works at Bank station.
“It is at the heart of the city, and these improvements are the first step towards a modern, accessible and easy-to-navigate station fit for the 21st century.
“We are at a pivotal moment in London’s recovery and it’s clearer than ever the critical role TFL plays in boosting our economy. It is time that the Government finally accepts that a properly-funded transport network in London is an issue of great national importance. Ministers must commit to a long-term funding deal that will protect the capital’s world-class transport network and support jobs and growth in London and across the whole country.”
TFL chief capital officer Stuart Harvey said: “Northern line customers at Bank station are now able to use a new 5m-wide southbound platform and spacious concourse. “The old layout was very constrained, leading to frequent congestion, but Northern line customers will now be able to make their journeys much more quickly and easily.
“The countdown is now on for finishing the rest of this complex major upgrade later this year, transforming Bank into a modern, flagship station, fit to serve one of the world’s most important financial districts.” During the closure of the branch, the opportunity was also taken to carry out work at other stations, including London Bridge, Borough, and Elephant & Castle. This included refurbishment of lifts and escalators, as well as refurbishment works at Borough, and enabling works for the future Elephant & Castle station upgrade.