NEW plans have revealed the massive overhaul of a busy London train station
Originally submitted back in 2023 by Network Rail and ACME, a new name is in the mix claiming their redesign of the London landmark will be half the cost and half the price of the other plans.
John McAslan & Partners (JMP), who were behind the upgrade at King’s Cross Station in 2012, have put forward another idea to resign London Liverpool Street station.
Unlike previous plans submitted by Network Rail and ACME, these would require almost no demolition of the station that is around 150 years old.
The new images have revealed a nine-storey office development ‘floating’ above the existing station and train shed.
This would be accessed via 50 Liverpool Street rather than the station which would mean less disruption.
It would also allow for the listed parts of the building to stay intact.
Other improvements would be to accessibility as well as new walkways, offices and it would allow room for more capacity within the station.
Plans also claim that the design would be much cheaper at half the cost of the current ACME scheme – which is estimated to be £1.2billion.
And they’ve said it would be completed in half the time too – from eight to four years.
John McAslan, founder of JMP, said: “At Liverpool Street Station we seek to embrace the past, present and future in a way that celebrates transport architecture by retaining and protecting the station’s historic fabric and also future-proofs it – an approach we adopted at King’s Cross Station.
“Our approach is phasable and will ensure Liverpool Street Station remains operational with minimal disruption during its construction period.”
A decision on the upgrades will be made by The City of London Corporation and is expected next year.
Meanwhile, Network Rail and ACME claim their application will redevelop Britain’s busiest station to make it “fit for the future“.
They ditched their previous plans for a pool and rooftop garden, and new designs focus on step-free access, new lifts, escalators and facilities.
The revised scheme features amendments including reducing the size of the office block above the station and realigning the building to avoid interfering with the Grade II listed hotel next door.
The renders reveal that the entrances have been redesigned, as has the landscaping and benches around the Kindertransport statue.
Details to transform Liverpool Street station include eight new lifts and increasing the number of escalators from four to 10.
The concourse will increase to help with the issue of over-crowding, the creation of step-free access across the station and London Underground.
There will be additional ticket barriers, toilets and family facilities.
New entrances on Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate and Exchange Square will be created. There will be better signage throughout the area which will make buses easier to find, and cycling storage will be added.
A new pedestrian route is set to be built up to Exchange Square and inside will be more cafes, restaurants and shops.
Friedrich Ludewig, Founding Director, ACME said: “We have embraced the challenge to design new entrances reflecting its position as the UK’s busiest train station, and roof structures that speak to the original 1875 structures and the 1990s extension.
He added that “Liverpool Street station will become the world-class transport hub that the City of London and all Londoners deserve”.
This small English train station named best in the UK is getting a £1million upgrade…
Penrith Station in Cumbria, England, operated by Avanti West Coast, has just been named the best small station in the UK by the National Rail Awards 2025.
Soon, the station will be revitalised through a £1million upgrade, that is part of the Borderlands Deal.
Plans include improving the station’s concourse and buildings, as well as the station house which sits on the concourse.
Currently disused rooms will also be refurbished and there will be new shops on one of the platforms.
The project also aims to create 12 new jobs and two new businesses for the town.
Currently, works on the station are expected to be finished mid-2026.
Network Rail is also planning to replace Clifton Bridge, which is near Penrith Station, in 2026.
The bridge is nearly 60-years-old and takes trains over the M6, but currently only one train can go over the bridge at a time causing delays to services.
Another project – ‘Connecting Penrith’ – will eventually connect Penrith station to Keswick and the wider Lakes allowing passengers to access more local leisure destinations.
And in the future, new ticketing could be introduced such as meet and greet cycle hire options.
For more on trains – these are the seven stunning European cities that Brits could take direct trains to as London station plans huge expansion.
And the ‘once-in-a-generation’ UK terminal upgrade revealed ahead of major new EU travel rules.