The first signs of progress to tackle “frustrating” delays for passengers at Britain’s busiest train station have been unveiled.
Passengers returning to central London after the Christmas break found it much easier to pass through the ticket barriers at Liverpool Street station.
Over the festive season, Network Rail contractors removed a number of retail units previously located along the gateline separating the concourse from the platforms, in order to create space for more automated ticket barriers.
As reported last summer, the plans aim to increase the number of barriers by more than 50 per cent to make it easier for passengers arriving on trains to exit the station – or to catch a train once platform departure information is announced.
With Liverpool Street being reconfirmed as the busiest rail station in the UK, passengers – particularly those using London Overground services – often faced delays of several minutes passing through the ticket barriers due to the extent of overcrowding.
There were also occasions when fare dodgers barged past station staff manning the manual “wide gates”.
The work is due to be completed by spring 2025. This will add 21 new ticket gates, increasing their number from 36 to 57.
There will be 48 standard width and nine automated wide ticket gates.
The five retail units being removed include the Upper Crust sandwich kiosk, the AMT/Pasty Shop, the Wasabi sushi outlet and Mi Casa, which sold burritos. Panopolis coffee bar has also been removed.
Space for three new retail units will be created on platform 10.
Announcing the changes last year, Network Rail said: “At busy times, passengers often have to queue at the ticket barriers whether trying to get to a train, or trying to exit the station from a platform which can be frustrating and inconvenient.”
Last November, the Office of Rail and Road announced that Liverpool Street had retrained its crown as the busiest station in the UK, largely due to the popularity of the Elizabeth line.
A total of 94.5m “entries and exits” were made by passengers at the station, which is served by the Lizzie line, the London Overground and Greater Anglia services, including the Stansted Express.
This related to the 12 months to March 2024, and was 17.5 per cent or 14.1m more than the previous year.
The changes at Liverpool Street are separate to wider plans to partly rebuild the station to enable it to cope with further increases in capacity.
