Passsengers changing trains at Bank station will save up to nine minutes on their journey after a new walking route opened, according to Transport for London.
On Thursday morning three new escalators installed under the station’s recent £700m expansion were switched on – making it easier to interchange between the Northern line and DLR.
It came as Tube journeys hit 100 per cent of pre-pandemic levels last Sunday – while bus travel was at 100 per cent of “normal” last Saturday.
The expansion of Bank station created a new southbound platform for the Northern line and developed a new station entrance on Cannon Street.
This is due to open later this year, as is a more direct link between the Northern and Central lines, featuring two new 95-metre moving walkways and three new escalators.
Bank is one of the busiest stations on the Tube network, with its subterranean walkways also linking with Monument station and the Circle and District lines.
Pre-pandemic, it was the third busiest interchange. The changes will increase capacity by 40 per cent. About four in 10 passengers use the station to switch between lines.
About three million journeys are being made on the Tube on weekdays as the post-pandemic recovery continues.
Last Sunday there were 2.12m journeys on the Tube compared to 2.11m on a similar Sunday in October in 2019.
There were 4.72m bus journeys on Saturday compared to 4.7m on similar day in 2019, though the number is thought to have been boosted by the train strike.
Tube ridership at stations defined as ‘City’ stations – including Bank – is now at around 65 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, up from around 33 per cent in January. Weekend Tube ridership is now regularly above 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Bank station currently has 19 escalators and will have 27 once the works are complete, the largest number on the Tube network.
Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, said: “Commuters changing between the Northern line and DLR at Bank station will have an incredible nine minutes shaved off their journey times as the next phase of vital upgrades to the station are completed.
“There are still more upgrades to come and once complete the transformed station will have 40 per cent more capacity supporting the recovery, growth and success of the City of London, addressing long-standing capacity issues and making journeys through Bank quicker, easier, and more comfortable.”
Stuart Harvey, chief capital officer at Transport for London, said: “Anyone familiar with the previous layout at Bank station will know that it was confusing and constrained, leading to frequent congestion and long interchange times.
“The countdown continues for the completion of this complex upgrade which is on track to transform Bank station into a modern, flagship gateway to London’s financial centre.”
