London Liverpool Street Station Roof Renewal: £22M Upgrade to Enhance Light and Drainage | Rail Technology Magazine

Network Rail has awarded a £22 million contract to Morgan Sindall Infrastructure to enhance London Liverpool Street station by renewing the roof panels and improving the drainage system of the Victorian trainshed.

Currently, a significant portion of the roof is covered in lichen, which blocks much of the natural light. The panels over platforms 1-10 will be replaced to ensure protection from the elements while creating a brighter environment for passengers. With climate change expected to bring more frequent and intense rainstorms, the roof must be resilient to these challenges, allowing rainwater to drain efficiently without overwhelming the system.

The contract aims to improve the overall experience for all users by increasing natural light and making the roof resilient to 1-in-10 year storms. The work includes:

• Replacing the life-expired GRP (glass reinforced plastic) panels at the northern end of the trainshed.
• Replacing or repairing over 600 Georgian panels and fittings over the southern end of the trainshed and concourse roof.
• Repairing the aluminium roof sheeting across the entire roof.
• Enhancing the roof’s catchment and drainage system to handle more intense rain events.
• Repairing and restoring the valance panels at the end of the trainshed roof.

Starting from Christmas 2024, these improvements will be carried out using an innovative sliding works platform, suspended under the roof spans and operated from Bishopgate’s Exchange Square. This method will minimize disruption inside the station, allowing the roof renewal work to proceed overhead while station operations continue uninterrupted.

Emily Heria, Network Rail Anglia sponsor for the roof renewal programme said: 

“London Liverpool Street is the jewel in the crown for the Anglia rail network and our passengers deserve to have a bright, dry and welcoming station.”

“Awarding this contract to Morgan Sindall Infrastructure marks an major step forward to giving this important station the care and attention it deserves and to shore up the roof against increasing and more frequent storm events.”

Olivia Perkins, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure Managing Director for Rail, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this scheme, to refresh and improve the resilience of the roof at Liverpool Street station.

“In planning the works we have aimed to put passengers first, working closely with Network Rail and key stakeholders, and learning from previous schemes, to develop a methodology that will minimise the impact to station users. We are pleased to be getting underway.”

The roof renewal  work is currently expected to be completed by end of 2026.

Photo credits: Network Rail