A huge upgrade of the UK’s busiest railway station has got a step closer after being approved by passengers.
Network Rail says a consultation has resulted in “overwhelming support” for the proposal.
New plans, which have been put forward after objections about an initial outline, focus on increasing the size of the concourse of Liverpool Street Station, as well as the “overcrowded” London Underground ticket hall to improving step-free access to all main line rail and Tube platforms.
Building Design reports that Acme’s plan would be “significantly cheaper” at a cost of around £1bn.
This is believed to be a third less than the £1.5bn price of the first proposed Sellar scheme.
Nearly 250,000 people engaged with the new plans, with more 1,800 station users responding with comments.
82 per cent agreed with the plans for step-free access to the station, 77 per cent said yes to new lifts to make overground trains and the London Underground more accessible, 75 per cent approved new toilets, including family facilities on every level; and 63 per cent said getting better signage from the station and making buses easier to find was a top priority, officials say.
List of changes:
Bosses say the plans to transform Liverpool Street include:
- Eight new lifts to make platforms and the London Underground more accessible
- Increasing the number of escalators from four to eight to enable easier access to the trains
- More ticket barriers to reduce queuing and additional waiting lounges
- New toilets, including family facilities on all levels of the station to bring much needed relief to travellers
- New landmark entrances on Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate and Exchange Square.
- The departure board, which hangs above the concourse at a right angle to the platforms, will be removed and replaced with a line of smaller boards above each platform entrance making it much easier for people to find onward connections.
- More cycle storage with direct access to platforms
- A greater variety of cafes, restaurants and shops
Robin Dobson, Group Property Director for Network Rail Property, commented: “We have listened and acted upon extensive feedback from the public, from passengers and from wider stakeholders.
“Our new proposals have had an overwhelmingly positive response which is fantastic news for the hundreds of millions of people who want to continue using one of the world’s great stations.
“It’s a vote of confidence in our approach to restore the station’s status as world leading. To regenerate our facilities and deal with inadequate capacity, both of which continue to frustrate our passengers.
“With such a complex project and with multiple stakeholders, there will always be objections, but the overwhelming response has been it’s time to get on with making Liverpool Street station the best it can be. That’s why this support from passengers is crucial to us. It’s from the people who use the station day in, day out, week in, week out. We will of course continue to review all the comments in detail before submitting an application.”
