Vauxhall Tube station will be transformed over the next few years, with a £36m modernisation by Transport for London (TfL) as part of wider investment designed to support the growth and regeneration of the surrounding area.

The modernisation of Vauxhall Tube station is an essential first phase of this strategy, which will provide a major increase in capacity and improve accessibility by making the station step-free, while keeping it open to passengers.

London Underground has now awarded the contract for the major improvements to Bechtel Ltd. Construction work will start in early 2014 and be completed by late 2015.

The number of passengers using Vauxhall Underground station is set to increase by 40 per cent over the next few years.

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In order to create extra space, the ticket hall will be reconfigured to allow for more ticket gates and wide-aisle gates allowing disabled passengers and those with buggies or heavy luggage to travel more easily and reducing congestion within the station.

The station, its subways and stairways will be completely refurbished and a lift will be installed between the ticket hall and platforms.

This, combined with the existing lift from the bus station to the Tube ticket hall, will deliver step-free access to Victoria line trains.

Network Rail has almost completed the National Rail station's upgrade, including new lifts, which are already in operation, so once the Tube station lift is completed it will create a fully accessible interchange between rail bus and Tube.

The total project cost of the Vauxhall Tube station improvements has been reduced by more than £9m from £45m to around £36m because of a more cost effective construction method, which also reduces environmental impact.

This includes building a lift shaft from below ground level and utilising sprayed concrete lining techniques, resulting in savings in both utility diversions and construction costs.

The works to improve Vauxhall station are part of TfL's focus on investing in transport projects across London that will support economic growth including up to 20,000 jobs and 16,000 homes in the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea areas.

(CD/MH)