London Liverpool Street station is set to undergo a major transformation to improve the passenger experience. The UK's busiest station, which has seen a 16% increase in passenger numbers since the pandemic, is struggling to cope with the surge in travellers.
To tackle congestion at the ticket barriers, Network Rail will install an additional 21 automatic ticket gates, increasing capacity by 58%. It is anticipated it will significantly reduce waiting times for passengers, making their journeys smoother. The work will be carried out in phases, with completion expected by spring 2025.
To accommodate the new gates, five retail units will be removed, but three new ones will be created in a different location. The existing Greater Anglia ticket office will also be relocated to Platform 10.
Lawrence Bowman, Network Rail route director, said: "The current gateline simply cannot cope with the number of passengers. These improvements are essential to ensure the station can handle the increased demand."
Jamie Burles, managing director of Greater Anglia, added: "We're pleased to see these enhancements, which will benefit our customers by reducing crowding and improving journey times.
"These enhancements will help reduce crowding during peak times, enable customers to board trains more quickly and help them pass through the station more swiftly on arrival.”
The project, in partnership with contractor Spence, is expected to minimise disruption to passengers.
Liverpool Street station is currently at the heart of a £1.5 billion redevelopment project which received strong criticism and over 2,000 objections during its consultation period earlier this year. As a result of this, Network Rail has been forced to amend its plans which are expected to be substantial.
Both the developer Sellar and Network Rail are expecting to put its revised plans back for council approval later this year.
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