London Underground (LU) is set to upgrade 70 railway stations in the next seven years, as part of the Transport for London’s (TfL) £330m Station Stabilisation programme.
More than 20 contractors and three multi-discipline design firms have been selected to carry out the improvements at stations including Embankment, Paddington, Earls Court, South Kensington and Charing Cross stations.
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Upgrades at the stations include improved flooring, walls and ceilings, CCTV systems and electrical equipment, including energy-efficient lighting.
Under the programme, LU’s stake delivery model will be adopted to create greater efficiency by reducing sub-contractor layers in the supply chain.
LU will engage directly with small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to employ craftspeople who will deliver work on-site.
LU Stations programme director Miles Ashley said: "This programme of work will see 70 stations brought up to a modern standard, which will not only mean better, brighter customer journeys, but will also mean less closures for remedial work that can cause disruption.
"Construction supply chains have become multi-tiered and fragmented, and it could be said that the industry has lost sight of the importance of craft skills in delivering efficiently. Great craftsmanship is the key to the success of any infrastructure project, and our stake approach allows long-term engagement with the people at the workface and recognises that they are the most valuable part of our team."
The stake delivery model is a UK trial project under Infrastructure UK, a unit within the Treasury that works on the UK’s long-term infrastructure priorities.
Image: London Paddington station. Photo: courtesy of Geof Sheppard.
