Projects About Thinking News Contact
Back to Projects

Bank Station Capacity Upgrade

London Underground's Bank Station, at the heart of the City of London, is amongst the busiest; a key destination and the interchange between numerous different lines that has grown organically over more than 100 years.

Until recently, surface access was inadequate and a maze of connecting tunnels linked the different lines in a haphazard way that made wayfinding difficult for passengers.  The Bank Station Capacity Upgrade was a ten year initiative to design out these inadequacies and make a station fit for 21st Century travel and rising passenger numbers.

The first phase of this extensive scheme to be delivered included the creation of a new wider southbound platform for the Northern line. The existing platform tunnel has been converted into a wide concourse which, in addition to new direct links to the Central line and DLR platforms, eases congestion and provides better connectivity below ground.

The second phase, completing in Februrary 2023, saw the opening of a new station entrance on Cannon Street providing direct from the mainline station opposite; new lifts and escalators connecting the Northern line and DLR platforms to the streeet. A Transport and Works Act Order consents process was used to secure planning for TfL, enabled and de-risked by including designs for an oversite development over the new street level ticket hall. The orientation of the ticket hall onto Cannon Street responded to commuter data, whilst allowing the oversite development to have its address on adjacent King William Street, enhancing its projected market value. 

Location
London, UK & Europe
Status
Completed
Year
2023
Experience
Transport

The upgrade significantly eliminates congestion at the station and reduces passenger journey times by cutting interchange distances and creating intuitive wayfinding, with clear sightlines and the strategic use of colour blocks supporting signage – making the commute more appealing and creating confidence for new users.

The architecture is of two differentiated styles, the new Cannon Street entrance providing a contextually sensitive response, and the below ground areas designed to complement the wider London Underground brand, tunnelling construction methods and interfaces with the existing station areas, whilst giving architectural expression to the functional elements of the station.

The new station elevations incorporate Portland Stone echoing the materials of King William Street and the wider Bank Conservation Area, with the entrance celebrated as a generous portal onto Cannon Street. The internal space has a good floor to ceiling height with a scalloped soffit which creates an undulating plane within the ticket hall, accentuated by the lighting design; the eye is led towards the escalators and lifts down to the platform areas. The opening of this entrance completes the complex project, delivering a wealth of improvements to this major transport interchange and vital amenity for the City.

Related
Elizabeth Line, Liverpool Street Station
The Elizabeth Line, built as Crossrail, is one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in Europe.
Bank Station Re-Opens
Current phase of upgrade work at Bank station completes
Jubilee Line
The delivery of transport infrastructure is an important part of our history and current workload. We first gained in depth experience in this field on two major commissions for London Underground’s Jubilee Line Extensio…
Get in touch with us
  • info@wilkinsoneyre.com
  • press@wilkinsoneyre.com
  • newbusiness@wilkinsoneyre.com
  • London

    33 Bowling Green Lane
    London EC1R 0BJ
    United Kingdom

    T +44 (0)20 7608 7900 info@wilkinsoneyre.com
  • Hong Kong SAR

    13/F China Hong Kong Tower
    8-12 Hennessy Road
    Wan Chai, Hong Kong

    T +852 2110 8055 asiapacific@wilkinsoneyre.com
  • Sydney

    201 Kent Street
    Sydney PO Box R55
    NSW 2000, Australia

    T +61 02 9247 07 40 australia@wilkinsoneyre.com
Instagram LinkedIn Twitter
Privacy Policy
  • Design TM
  • Development morphsites