GBR Anglia has completed a two-year refurbishment of the roof above platforms 1-10 at London Liverpool Street, restoring natural light to the station’s Victorian trainshed.
Engineers replaced discoloured and lichen-covered glazing across 11,000m², an area equivalent to 8.8 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Project measurements found average light levels on the platforms were between 11 and 56 times higher after the work.
Roof drainage and heritage repairs
The works also included the targeted replacement of 770 glass panels over the concourse and extensive drainage improvements. New guttering and increased rainwater capacity are intended to reduce leaks and improve the station’s resilience to heavier rainfall.
More than 800 timber slats forming the decorative valance at the end of the trainshed were restored or newly made at a workshop in Bristol. Each slat was individually numbered before being returned to its original position, maintaining the design installed when the station was built in 1874.
The project was delivered by Network Rail’s contractor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure. Sliding scaffolding decks suspended above the platforms and concourse allowed most of the work to take place during normal operating hours, limiting the need for closures and reducing disruption to passengers.
Martin Beable, chief operating officer for GBR Anglia, said: “This project has lit up our previously dingy trainshed, delivering a major improvement for passengers while keeping disruption to a minimum. Liverpool Street is Britain’s busiest station and one of the rail network’s most historic and iconic landmarks. It now has a roof to do it justice.”
Further station upgrades
GBR Anglia brings c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia together under one leadership team as part of the wider move towards Great British Railways.
The roof project follows the installation last year of 21 additional ticket gates between platforms 1-10. The number of gates on that gateline increased from 36 to 57, while five existing manual wide gates were converted to automatic operation.
Work is continuing at the station, including the replacement of around 450 public address speakers. The roof project team is expected to complete demobilisation over the coming weeks.