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Remaining Northern Line Bank upgrades following major blockade

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Mikey C

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A key section of the Northern line will close for four months to allow a £700m upgrade of Bank station to be completed.

Transport for London on Monday set out a new timetable for a 17-week “blockade” of the line’s Bank branch between Moorgate and Kennington stations.

It will be closed from January 15 until mid-May next year – about six months later than planned, due to the Covid shutdown of TfL’s major projects last year.

This is likely to have the unfortunate effect of hampering what TfL bosses hope will be a return to pre-pandemic passenger numbers next year.


A shame this has been delayed from the original timetable, much of which would have been during the quieter summer months.
 
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Snow1964

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Let’s hope the Waterloo and City is operating properly by then

Am I correct in thinking the Battersea extension now opens before this section closes

The short temporary bus Bank-Oval must be aimed at local travel only, with those from nearer ends of the line using alternative tube routes
 

stuu

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I thought the Battersea extension opening had been delayed so it opened after the blockade as there aren't enough trains for the modified service and the extension. What's changed? Is it just reduced demand?
 

edwin_m

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I thought the Battersea extension opening had been delayed so it opened after the blockade as there aren't enough trains for the modified service and the extension. What's changed? Is it just reduced demand?
I'd have thought the modified service would need fewer trains.
 

Ianno87

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I thought the Battersea extension opening had been delayed so it opened after the blockade as there aren't enough trains for the modified service and the extension. What's changed? Is it just reduced demand?

I suspect that was pre-Covid demand, where with the Bank branch closed, you'd need every possible Charing Cross train headed for Morden to accommodate demand.

Now with peak demand very significantly reduced (and likely to stay that way) you can probably split the Charing Cross service to serve both Morden and Battersea whilst still accommodating all passengers.

It's quite hard to emphasise enough quite how wedged the south end of the Northern Line was pre-Covid; but a large amount of that demand will be the work-from-homers bound for the city (who can now, if needs be, be flexible to returning to working from home for the duration of the block, and probably will do so without being asked).

I suspect also an element of the private funders of the extension also wanting to see an actual service sooner rather than later.
 

Mikey C

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I suspect that was pre-Covid demand, where with the Bank branch closed, you'd need every possible Charing Cross train headed for Morden to accommodate demand.

Now with peak demand very significantly reduced (and likely to stay that way) you can probably split the Charing Cross service to serve both Morden and Battersea whilst still accommodating all passengers.

It's quite hard to emphasise enough quite how wedged the south end of the Northern Line was pre-Covid; but a large amount of that demand will be the work-from-homers bound for the city (who can now, if needs be, be flexible to returning to working from home for the duration of the block, and probably will do so without being asked).

I suspect also an element of the private funders of the extension also wanting to see an actual service sooner rather than later.
I would have thought a significant number of people living in Sarf London, many in cramped noisy accommodation, would be amongst those coming back to work, whereas those commuting in from the home counties, with expensive train fares and spacious houses would be more likely to work from home as much as possible...
 

Ianno87

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I would have thought a significant number of people living in Sarf London, many in cramped noisy accommodation, would be amongst those coming back to work, whereas those commuting in from the home counties, with expensive train fares and spacious houses would be more likely to work from home as much as possible...

The whole area has gentrified quite considerably over the last decade or so. Even if its still busy, there's probably enough home workers to at least make the level of demand manageable (or at least who could go in a reduced number of days and/or vary time of travel if necessary)
 

Mojo

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What's happening to the DLR & Central Platforms?

Nothing I assume, the scheme is all about providing a new platform for the Northern Line

The TfL website mentions "improved" step free access to the DLR.

Yes, but the DLR platforms are underneath the Northern Line platforms and I generally access them from there


As part of the overall programme of works, there will be new lifts offering direct step free access from street level to the Northern line and the DLR (at the moment to use the DLR requires the use of three separate lifts; one from street level to the Northern line ticket hall, one from there to the ‘triplication’ area and then another down to platform level, but a single pair of lifts will run from street to DLR, stopping at Northern line on the way).

A new bank of escalators will also come up from DLR level to Northern line level, the Northern line level will have a moving walkway in each direction for customers changing to the Central line, with another new bank of escalators up to the Central line.
 

davews

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What is the current situation of changing at Bank from DLR to W&C. A year or so ago because of the building work it involved exiting the station and walking along the road outside between Bank and Monument. Is that still the case?
 

Mikey C

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An amusing error in the headline from my local paper, somebody confusing the cost with the length of time of the blockade :D

Screenshot 2021-07-15 084109.png
 

davews

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What is the current situation of changing at Bank from DLR to W&C. A year or so ago because of the building work it involved exiting the station and walking along the road outside between Bank and Monument. Is that still the case?

Answered my own question, found myself going DLR to W&C at Bank this afternoon. All normal again - although still a long walk in the tunnels.
 

philthetube

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I remember this section being closed previously, approx. 24 years ago, I qualified as a driver during the blockade and when it reopened we had to hike from Moorgate to Kennington in order to be able to drive it when it reopened, the steel toe capped willies provided were really uncomfortable.
 

stuu

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I remember this section being closed previously, approx. 24 years ago, I qualified as a driver during the blockade and when it reopened we had to hike from Moorgate to Kennington in order to be able to drive it when it reopened, the steel toe capped willies provided were really uncomfortable.
I can well imagine they were
 

Ianno87

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I remember this section being closed previously, approx. 24 years ago, I qualified as a driver during the blockade and when it reopened we had to hike from Moorgate to Kennington in order to be able to drive it when it reopened, the steel toe capped willies provided were really uncomfortable.

I think that would have been for the Jubilee Line works at London Bridge.
 

Mikey C

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I think that would have been for the Jubilee Line works at London Bridge.
London Bridge on the Northern Line had a blockade as it was rebuilt to provide a new platform and concourse space

Indeed the Northern Line City branch (C&SL railway must have had more station rebuilds than any other line, with major platform rebuilds at Euston (City branch), Angel, London Bridge and now Bank.
 

swt_passenger

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London Bridge on the Northern Line had a blockade as it was rebuilt to provide a new platform and concourse space

Indeed the Northern Line City branch (C&SL railway must have had more station rebuilds than any other line, with major platform rebuilds at Euston (City branch), Angel, London Bridge and now Bank.
…and really ought to have more still, if they are ever to sort out the remaining “islands”…
 

Hadders

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I think that would have been for the Jubilee Line works at London Bridge.
Probably but they also renewed some track on the Northern Line as well.

I remember the works over-ran and Tony Blair (who had just won the 1997 General Election) was asked about it on Question Time and I was quite impressed that he knew a fair bit of detail about the works (and another line which had issues at the time but I can’t remember which one it was).

I also remember thank you posters on display at the affected stations after the re-opening thanking customers for their patience during the works and proclaiming that the service was now faster, more reliable and smoother!
 

Julia

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London Bridge on the Northern Line had a blockade as it was rebuilt to provide a new platform and concourse space

Indeed the Northern Line City branch (C&SL railway must have had more station rebuilds than any other line, with major platform rebuilds at Euston (City branch), Angel, London Bridge and now Bank.

Plus all the rebuilds in the 1920s for lengthening/widening, which led to City Road closing...
 

Mikey C

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Probably but they also renewed some track on the Northern Line as well.

I remember the works over-ran and Tony Blair (who had just won the 1997 General Election) was asked about it on Question Time and I was quite impressed that he knew a fair bit of detail about the works (and another line which had issues at the time but I can’t remember which one it was).

I also remember thank you posters on display at the affected stations after the re-opening thanking customers for their patience during the works and proclaiming that the service was now faster, more reliable and smoother!
They actually rebuilt the Northern Line station completely, with a new northbound platform and the old platform converted into the concourse area between the tracks
 

edwin_m

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They actually rebuilt the Northern Line station completely, with a new northbound platform and the old platform converted into the concourse area between the tracks
It was a thorough rebuilt but not really "complete" in that one track remained in place.
 

Timmyd

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How would the new bus route differ from the 133 which serves every Northern Line station from Oval to Bank?
 

Mikey C

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How would the new bus route differ from the 133 which serves every Northern Line station from Oval to Bank?
Quicker from not having to stop in between stations

When because of engineering works on the Northern Line they run a shuttle between Golders Green and Finchley Road, it's a lot faster than the regular buses on this route
 

Timmyd

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Quicker from not having to stop in between stations

When because of engineering works on the Northern Line they run a shuttle between Golders Green and Finchley Road, it's a lot faster than the regular buses on this route
That makes sense. I guess it didn’t give that impression by saying ‘new bus route’ rather than replacement bus service or similar
 

Mojo

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That makes sense. I guess it didn’t give that impression by saying ‘new bus route’ rather than replacement bus service or similar
Yes, the term “new” / “temporary” bus route implies that it will be a normal route number, rather like the temporary bridge replacement service when Hammersmith Bridge was closed (does this still run now the bridge has reopened to pedestrians and cycles?) and the many temporary buses that operate when roadworks close roads.
 
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