A major step toward the future of British rail infrastructure has been taken as Network Rail’s planning application to redevelop London Liverpool Street Station has been validated by the City of London.
The transformative vision outlines bold and collaborative plans to modernise Britain’s busiest station, ensuring it meets the needs of future generations while improving connectivity, accessibility, and the overall passenger experience.
With support from Transport for London (TfL), the proposals aim to create a fully integrated, multi-modal transport hub linking the national rail network, London Underground, the Elizabeth line, bus routes, and pedestrian and cycling access. The redesigned station will be fully accessible and is intended to serve as a blueprint for future infrastructure projects across the capital.
Sir Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, said: “The station proposed in this application is absolutely what London needs. An accessible, inclusive, world-class multi-modal transport gateway to the heart of London – designed to serve the City, all Londoners, and everyone who travels through it.”
London Liverpool Street currently connects 118 million passengers each year to destinations across London, East Anglia, and the east of England. Passenger numbers are forecast to grow by 35% to 158 million annually by 2041, with the capacity to support more than 200 million people in future decades.
Despite its critical role in the UK’s transport ecosystem, Liverpool Street Station has not seen a major upgrade in decades. Since the last major works, usage has tripled, resulting in regular congestion at ticket barriers, concourses, and access points. For some passengers, particularly those with mobility challenges, the current lack of step-free access and modern facilities creates significant barriers to travel.
The proposed redevelopment addresses these concerns head-on.
Beyond the transport benefits, the project promises a major economic uplift for the capital. According to figures released by Network Rail, the redevelopment could boost the City of London economy by up to £4.6 billion per year, a sum likened to the fiscal impact of a 1p change in the basic rate of income tax.
Since its opening in 1875, Liverpool Street Station has evolved alongside the City of London, playing a pivotal role in supporting economic growth in the ‘Square Mile’ for Network Rail. Network Rail’s plans aim to continue that legacy while modernising the infrastructure for a 21st-century transport system.
In collaboration with TfL and stakeholders such as Historic England, the revised proposals also seek to balance innovation with heritage, promising a bold new station interior that celebrates the historic fabric of the site while improving the overall experience for millions of daily users.
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