Transport for London (TfL) has appointed Dragados UK for the design and construction of new passenger tunnels at Elephant & Castle Tube station.
The work will link the new station box to the existing platforms and overbridge.
The contract award is the latest development in the capacity upgrade project and follows a competitive tendering process.
The first stage of the major upgrade of Elephant & Castle Tube station, which includes the tunnelling work, is funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA), London Borough of Southwark (LBS) and contributions from local developers.
Work on excavating around 135m of new passenger tunnels will start next year and is due to be completed in 2027.
The vital station upgrade will deliver step-free access to the Northern line for the first time, along with a much-needed new Northern line entrance and ticket hall.
It will also support long-term growth across the Elephant & Castle Opportunity Area to meet the projected 25-40% increase in demand for services from the station by 2041 (compared to pre-pandemic levels).
The upgraded station will support the delivery of more than 10,000 new jobs and 5,000 new homes, with at least 1,650 affordable.
It will also be the first piece of substantial infrastructure to support the proposed Bakerloo Line Extension.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s chief capital officer, said: “Work is progressing well on the major upgrade of Elephant & Castle Tube station, with the appointment of a tunnelling contractor a significant step forward in delivering an expanded station fit to serve this growing community for many decades to come.
“When completed, the new entrance and ticket hall will provide step-free access from street to platform level on the Northern line and increase station capacity by over 30%.
“Further in the future, and subject to TfL securing the necessary funding, the plan is for this new entrance to also serve Bakerloo line customers as part of the planned Bakerloo Line Extension.”
TfL is progressing work on plans to upgrade and extend the Bakerloo line.
Its immediate priority is securing the long-term capital funding certainty that would allow it to, among other vital investments, replace the existing 36-train Bakerloo line fleet which, at over 50 years old, is the oldest operating in daily passenger service anywhere in the UK.
Securing a new fleet of trains, which the Siemens Mobility factory in Goole would be expected to deliver, and signalling for the Bakerloo line would improve reliability across the line.
Although currently unfunded, an extension of the Bakerloo line to Lewisham and beyond would provide a radical change in connectivity and capacity, unlocking much needed new homes and supporting jobs and economic growth both across London and more widely across the UK via TfL’s extensive supply chain.
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