Tube first Look: Northern line Bank branch reopens for the first time in four months

The Bank branch of the London Underground’s Northern line reopened on Monday morning after being closed for four months.

Tube services between Kennington and Moorgate welcomed commuters back following the completion of a portion of the £70million upgrade works by Transport for London.

The refurbishments include a new passenger concourse and a new southbound platform at Bank Station.

The rest of the work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

This includes new escalators linking the Northern line to the DLR, two new moving walkways and three new escalators connecting the Northern and Central lines

Capacity at the station has been increased by 40% as a result of the upgrade, with a new entrance on Cannon Street also set to be finished later this year.

The four month closure also saw works done to London Bridge, Borough, and Elephant and Castle stations.

Mayor Sadiq Khan, reopened the line on Monday morning, said: “Bank Station is at the heart of the city and these improvements are the first step towards a modern, accessible, easy to navigate station fit for the 21st century.

“We are at a pivotal moment in London’s recovery, and it’s clearer than ever the critical role TfL plays in boosting our economy.

“It is time that the government finally accepts that a properly funded transport network in London is an issue of great national importance.”

Londoners took to social media to share their joy of the reopening.

Theatre enthusiast Harry McDonald wrote on Twitter: “God bless the Bank branch of the Northern line and all who sail in her.”

While youth activist Evie Aspinall wrote: “The UK came second in Eurovision and now the Bank branch of the Northern line has reopened, millennials really are being spoiled.”

Hugo Gordon wrote: “Happy reopening of the Bank Branch of the Northern Line Day to all who celebrate.”

Stuart Harvey, chief capital officer at TfL, said: "From today, Northern line customers at Bank station are able to use a new, five-metre wide southbound platform and spacious concourse.

“The old layout was very constrained, leading to frequent congestion, but Northern line customers will now be able to make their journeys much more quickly and easily.

“I’d like to thank our customers for their patience while the Bank branch of the Northern line was closed, which was essential in enabling us to complete this work.

“Our construction teams were totally focused throughout the planned closure, which was in place for 120 days, on fully re-opening the Northern line on time.

“The countdown is now on for finishing the rest of this complex major upgrade later this year, transforming Bank into a modern, flagship station, fit to serve one of the world’s most important financial districts.”