Tube station upgrade enters new phase

Date: 5/4/2011

Work carried out at Tottenham Court Road Tube station has been taken up a notch as the project to transform it into a "new gateway to the West End" continues a pace.

Transport for London is reminding anyone hoping to take the Northern Line to the station over the coming months that they will be unable to do so until November as exit four will be closed while a staircase is rebuilt.

In total, upgrades to the century-old station are set to cost £500 million in order to make it suitable for the 147,000 travellers who now pass through it on a daily basis.

It has been estimated that this figure could rise yet further once Crossrail is completed, meaning work is being conducted to increase the size of the ticket hall six-fold, build or modernise four entrances and establish a connection to the new Crossrail Dean Street ticket hall.

London Underground's Strategy and Commercial Director Richard Parry says: "The changes we are making to the station will transform it, with a massive increase in capacity, new entrances and step-free access."

Elsewhere, engineering works are set to take place on London's Overground and the Bakerloo Line during Easter and the May bank holidays.

Posted by Mary Treen