London Underground Ltd (LUL) has awarded a major programme of upgrades to Shepherd’s Bush Central Line Tube Station to contractor Morgan Est.
The US$63M contract is expected to run for two years and includes civil engineering and building works to improve station access and relieve pedestrian congestion at the station. The scope includes two new shafts and access tunnels although LUL advised it did not wish to divulge details of the diameters and lengths to T&TI for “security reasons”.
The works complement a larger project being progressed by LUL that will upgrade and remodel the tickethall, as well as providing a new retail and leisure development in White City. When the development opens, a 40% increase in passenger numbers is expected through the station and congestion relief and step free access are seen as important to the success of the plans.
Morgan Est described the project as technically difficult as it involves tunnelling and ground stabilisation works in a live environment between the station’s existing running tunnels and under a busy bus station without disrupting services.
Awarded under Morgan Est’s existing five year Alternative Provider Framework Agreement with LUL, the works will be carried out by the contractor’s rail and tunnelling teams. Mark Cutler, Morgan Est’s managing director said: “This is a complex and sensitive works programme which requires an experienced management team to deliver it. Morgan Est has the opportunity to demonstrate its unique, integrated civils and tunnelling capability in the rail environment.”
