Network Rail has developed a bold and collaborative vision to transform Britain’s busiest station, London Liverpool Street. The planning application for the redevelopment scheme has now been validated by the City of London.
The proposals would futureproof the station for decades to come, providing more space and creating a connected station across the rail network, London Underground, the Elizabeth line, buses, cycling and pedestrian routes while also delivering a fully accessible gateway for customers across the capital and beyond.
London Liverpool Street currently connects 118 million people a year within London, East Anglia and the east of England. With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow by 35% to 158 million by 2041, the plans will ensure that the station is future-proofed, ready to accommodate over 200 million people in the decades ahead, while enhancing accessibility for all.
The plans are a first for Network Rail outlining a comprehensive and coordinated set of requirements to deliver a new and integrated station which have been developed with support from TfL. This approach is intended to serve as a model for how future infrastructure projects across the capital are managed.
Sir Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, Network Rail said: “The station proposed in this application is absolutely what London needs. An accessible, inclusive, world-class multi-modal transport gateway to the heart of London - designed to serve the City, all Londoners, and everyone who travels through it. “
Liverpool Street station no longer meets the expectations of passengers, and for some, the lack of step-free access and basic facilities makes travel difficult. The station already experiences heavy congestion at busy times, whether at ticket barriers, in the concourses, or moving to the underground and street level. Since the last major upgrade, passenger numbers have tripled.
Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, TfL added: “Network Rail’s vision for the station gives us an opportunity to work together to provide the excellent levels of customer satisfaction we want everyone to experience as they travel across our networks. We welcome that these plans include a comprehensive step-free solution for those using the Underground. At the heart of these plans is an unshakeable commitment to safety, top-tier performance, and delivering a transport system for London that is not only efficient, but environmentally sustainable.”
The scheme will help drive long-term economic growth across the City of London. New figures released by Network Rail show the transformation of London Liverpool Street station could boost the City of London economy by up to £4.6 billion per year1 through increased visitor numbers [1], a contribution comparable in scale to a 1p change in the basic rate of income tax [2].
Since opening in 1875, Liverpool Street station and the ‘Square Mile’ area of London have developed in parallel, each driving the success and evolution of the other. As the City continues to grow, it is essential that the station is modernised to meet the demands of a 21st-century transport network and continue supporting the economic vitality of both London and the wider UK.
Network Rail has worked closely with TfL and other key stakeholders on the revised proposals, including Historic England, to ensure the transformation delivers a better customer experience alongside celebrating the heritage and creating a bold station interior.
Image credit: Network Rail
