Oxford Street Tube revamp to cause eight months of delays

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12 April 2012

Tube and bus passengers face months of disruption as the transformation of two stations in Oxford Street accelerates.

The Northern line will not stop at Tottenham Court Road for eight months from April, causing problems for people wanting to switch to or from the Central line, which will continue running as normal.

In addition, 14 bus routes will be diverted or will terminate early when part of Oxford Street's eastbound lane is closed next Monday for nine months for preparatory work at Bond Street.

Transport for London said the disruption - the biggest in the West End in recent times - was unavoidable in expanding the stations and developing new interchanges with the Crossrail train line to Heathrow. The two stations are due to be completed by 2016.

But it comes alongside a year of upheaval at Victoria Tube, which passengers have been asked to avoid during the evening rush hour while escalators are replaced.

Tottenham Court Road, which is more than 100 years old, is being rebuilt with four new or replacement entrances, wheelchair access and a ticket hall almost six times larger.

It has been over-capacity for years and its daily passenger numbers are due to increase from 147,000 to 200,000 when Crossrail starts in 2018. But the work will involve the loss of some tiles that make up arguably the most stunning artwork on the Underground - the coloured mosaics by the late Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. The Tottenham Court Road Tube and Crossrail rebuild will cost £1 billion, including glass entrances beside Centrepoint that will glow in the dark, and a new entrance for the Crossrail station in Dean Street.

Richard Parry, London Underground strategy and commercial director, said: "It's going to have quite an impact on those who use Tottenham Court Road, but it's very necessary to progress the project."

Northern line passengers unable to exit or enter at Tottenham Court Road are advised to use Goodge Street or Leicester Square, which has spare capacity. Bond Street's capacity will be increased from 155,000 passengers a day to 225,000. Oxford Street will be closed eastbound between Duke Street and Vere Street until November.

Richard Dickinson, chief executive of New West End Company, which represents retailers and property owners, said: "Most of our shoppers rely on Bond Street station, and without this upgrade and vital Crossrail link businesses would suffer."

Meanwhile, TfL has apologised for the chaos on the Jubilee line last Friday - caused by problems with a new signalling system - and has offered refunds.

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