More than 2km of new southbound running tunnel has been installed by a team led by Dragados as part of the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade.
The Bank branch of the Northern line will reopen in mid-May, having been shut since January, with improvements at Bank station including a new platform and passageways.
Using two passenger trains, multiple runs were made through the new Northern line tunnels and new southbound platform over the weekend, which gave engineers the opportunity to check both the new railway systems and station systems to ensure that the Northern line will be ready to reopen to customers in mid-May.
From this date, customers will benefit from a new, wider southbound Northern line platform, three new passageways to make moving through the station quicker and easier, and a spacious new concourse.
In addition, over the Easter weekend, engineers on the project began testing the new signalling software as well as the new signalling hardware for the new southbound tunnel.
Since the last update in late March, TfL’s project team have completed the final tunnelling ‘tie ins’ to connect the new infrastructure into the existing network and installed all the new track, platform finishes and station systems. In the next few weeks, the focus will move to installing and testing the final station systems and familiarising station staff with the new layout and systems.
Transport for London (TfL) has completed a major milestone in the overhaul of Bank station, as test passenger trains ran through the new tunnel for the first time over the Easter weekend.
More than 2km of new southbound running tunnel has been installed by a team led by Dragados as part of the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade.
The Bank branch of the Northern line will reopen in mid-May, having been shut since January, with improvements at Bank station including a new platform and passageways.
Using two passenger trains, multiple runs were made through the new Northern line tunnels and new southbound platform over the weekend, which gave engineers the opportunity to check both the new railway systems and station systems to ensure that the Northern line will be ready to reopen to customers in mid-May.
From this date, customers will benefit from a new, wider southbound Northern line platform, three new passageways to make moving through the station quicker and easier, and a spacious new concourse.
In addition, over the Easter weekend, engineers on the project began testing the new signalling software as well as the new signalling hardware for the new southbound tunnel.
Since the last update in late March, TfL’s project team have completed the final tunnelling ‘tie ins’ to connect the new infrastructure into the existing network and installed all the new track, platform finishes and station systems. In the next few weeks, the focus will move to installing and testing the final station systems and familiarising station staff with the new layout and systems.
TfL senior project manager Jason Benka said: “We have been making great progress in the intricate and complex work that is required below ground at Bank to boost capacity and make it easier to navigate. Having worked on the project for five years, it was a really exciting moment to finally see a train travel through the new section of tunnel.
“This huge milestone is testament to the hard work of the team. We’re looking forward to reopening the station in mid-May and showing customers the new platform, passageways and concourse – with further improvements to come later this year.”
The upgrade of Bank station will see its capacity increased by 40% when work finishes later this year, with improvements still to come including step-free access to the Northern line and improved access to the DLR platforms.
There will also be more direct routes within the station and a new station entrance on Cannon Street.
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