TfL announces tunnelling completion at Bank

29 October 2020


Transport for London (TfL) has announced the completion of tunnelling at Bank Underground Station – regarded as one of the busiest interchanges on the Tube network.

Having resumed operations in May following an interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic, the completion of tunnelling marks a significant boost for the project.

More than 1.3km of tunnels have been constructed since May 2017. Part of a wider programme to expand the station’s size by 40%, the tunnelling has involved constructing a new southbound running tunnel for the Northern Line.

Also included in the works are the conversion of the existing running tunnel into a passenger concourse with six new cross passages linking to platforms on either side; three new escalator barrels already excavated to link the Northern Line to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and to a new entrance being built on Cannon Street; and a further link tunnel to connect the Northern and Central Lines.

The project has seen more than 200,000t of spoil removed from under one of London’s most historic districts and from beneath 31 listed buildings located above the new running tunnel. Due to the densely developed City of London, extra space was excavated to allow the temporary storage of spoil below ground to allow work to continue without interruption.

In some areas, the works saw highly intricate construction work. For example, the deep-level piled foundations of one building were sliced through, followed by excavation and installation of a new load-support system to divert the building loads around the new tunnel.