New modern ticket hall with step-free access opens at Moorgate as part of Elizabeth line improvements

Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station has been officially transferred to London Underground (LU), bringing immediate benefits to customers at Moorgate.

The new Elizabeth line stations are of such a scale, due to the new trains that are more than 200 metres in length, that many will have more than one station entrance.

Customers at Liverpool Street will be able to use Moorgate, as well as the new entrance at Broadgate, to access Elizabeth line services.

As part of the work undertaken by Crossrail, a refurbished station entrance for Moorgate station on Moorfields is now open. Step-free access to the London Underground's Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines has been provided with new lifts serving the eastbound and westbound platforms.

The new entrance is more spacious at 65 metres wide, with a longer gateline, six new ticket vending machines and customer information screens providing an improved customer experience for those using the station.

The rest of the new Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station will open with the start of cross-London Elizabeth line services in the first half of 2022.

Improved customer experience

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: 'I'm really pleased that passengers on three Tube lines will be able to benefit from step-free access at the new Moorgate station entrance from today, as the Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station is handed over to TfL.

'The Elizabeth line will transform our city's transport network when it opens next year, and it is great that Londoners are already able to enjoy some of the advantages it will bring.'

Andy Lord, London Underground Managing Director, said: 'It's great to have this bright new ticket hall available for customers using Moorgate station with step-free access to the London Underground provided.

'It will provide a more modern experience for those using the station and staff and customers will be able start using this new part of the station ahead of Elizabeth line services starting in the first half of next year.'

Mark Wild, Crossrail Chief Executive, said: 'I am delighted that Liverpool Street station has been handed over to London Underground.

'I am proud of everyone who has worked so hard to get this fantastic new railway station over the line and make the most of the limited site space available in the heart of London to build a massive and impressive piece of infrastructure.'

Alastair Moss, Chair of the City of London Corporation's Planning and Transportation Committee, said: 'The opening of the step-free Moorgate entrance is fantastic news for City commuters and marks another step towards unlocking the highly anticipated Elizabeth line for London's residents, workers and visitors.

'Once open, the Elizabeth line will provide an enormous boost for the City by enhancing sustainable transport links to the rest of London and beyond which is why we made a substantial financial contribution of £200m towards the Crossrail project.'

Declan McGeeney, Director of UK Infrastructure, Laing O'Rourke said: 'I want to thank our construction team for their dedication and hard work. Using our experience of delivering rail sector infrastructure in the UK and internationally, we have worked in close partnership with Crossrail, London Underground and our supply chain partners, to create a world-class and aesthetically stunning station.

'It will improve the travelling experience of millions of people and we are excited by the prospect of passengers starting to use it.'

Trial Operations

Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station, which was built by Laing O'Rourke, is the fifth station to be transferred to TfL and the third station which London Underground will take over as infrastructure manager. Station and maintenance staff can begin familiarisation at the station ahead of the Elizabeth line opening.

The station is now ready for the next stages in the extensive commissioning, which will prepare it for Trial Operations beginning later this year.

Trial Operations is the final phase before the Elizabeth line opens ensuring the safety and reliability of the railway for public use. This includes scenarios including evacuations of trains and stations. Laing O'Rourke will continue demobilisation from the site.

Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station is the deepest of the new central London stations (34 metres below ground at platform level) and has a total of 15 escalators and seven lifts. Two of these are inclined lifts at the Broadgate entrance to take passengers from street to platform level.

When the line opens, the station will have a central concourse linking Liverpool Street and Moorgate stations as well as two platforms that are more than 200 metres long.

The grooved and angled ceilings in both ticket halls were formed from pre-cast concrete panels instead of a flat ceiling to create a greater sense of space and movement and resemble the pinstripes often seen in the suits of City workers.

The station will eventually offer an interchange between the Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Northern lines.

Customers can also interchange with London Overground services and National Rail services to east London, Hertfordshire, East Anglia and Stansted and Southend Airports from the rail station.

The Moorgate ticket hall is accessed at street level through a wide entrance which is framed by bold blue glass. A protective gantry with scaffolding remains above the new entrance related to the over-site development being built by Land Securities (21 Moorfields).

Separately, TfL has completed a deal with Aviva Investors to build a mixed-use scheme, with office and retail space, spanning almost 75,000 sq. ft of floorspace (101 Moorgate).

The development bookends the new Elizabeth line station in the City of London with 1 Liverpool Street at the east entrance, where Aviva Investors is also developing a c.175,000 sq. ft. mixed-use office and retail space, set over 11 floors.

The Elizabeth line was part funded by the City of London Corporation and Crossrail has worked with the City Corporation to improve the highway and public realm around the Elizabeth line ticket halls in the Square Mile.

New forecourts and plazas around both entrances to Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station will provide pedestrian-friendly, accessible spaces with wider pavements.

Notes to editors

• The Moorfields ticket hall at Moorgate station was closed in 2011 for Elizabeth line improvements with a through route for customers provided during most of the reconstruction
• Stations that have transferred from Crossrail to TfL so far are Custom House, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road, Woolwich and Liverpool Street
• Paddington, Whitechapel and Canary Wharf will be the next stations to transfer
• Step-free access to the Northern line at Moorgate using new lifts will be available when the Elizabeth line opens.