As one of nine new stations developed as part of the construction of the Elizabeth line, Bond Street Station will facilitate up to 137,000 passengers per day, with up to 22 trains passing through the station every hour at peak times from November 6 this year and up to 24 trains per hour from May 2023.

Providing interchanges for the Central and Jubilee lines, the newly constructed Bond Street station will significantly improve accessibility for travellers, whilst simultaneously increasing capacity at one of the busiest shopping districts in the UK.

The development of the station, managed initially by Crossrail contractor CSJV and later self-delivered by Crossrail, included the specification of 200 Howe Green stainless steel floor access covers as part of the structural and architectural design process to provide secure and concealed access to under-floor services.

Installed throughout the entire station, which includes two newly constructed ticket halls at street level and all underground passenger platforms that can be as long as 255 metres, the medium-duty 7500 Series Floor Access Covers were manufactured to bespoke specifications to successfully meet the project’s extensive requirements.

With over 50 kilometres of communications cabling, 200 CCTV cameras, 66 information displays, 200 radio antennas, 750 loudspeakers and 50 help points, an essential element of the specification process was ensuring the covers were tamper proof, without preventing contractors from gaining quick and easy access to the services below.

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Manufactured with unobtrusive barrel cover lifting points that can only be accessed with unique lifting and securing keys, the access covers are protected from unauthorised access, without impacting the overall design scheme, as only the securing bolt and barrel edge are visible.

The method of removing the covers also ensures the products can be handled easily and safely by contractors, eliminating any potential strain or harm, regardless of the covers’ combined weight with the hard flooring finishes. This is due to the lifting blocks being anchored to the inner frame.

Throughout maintenance-only areas, the lifting mechanisms of the floor access covers are mechanically assisted with pistons so engineers can securely lift the covers from underneath.

Installed in conjunction with terrazzo flooring across the platforms, and Portuguese granite throughout the ground floor public areas, the 7500 Series Floor Access Covers seamlessly blend with the architectural finishes of the station for a streamlined visual effect.

This sleek aesthetic is further enhanced by the tiling modules, which create a unified and cohesive finish, simultaneously eradicating any potential trip hazards, as the access covers are installed entirely flush with the hard flooring.

The minimal profile of the edges also reflects the dimension of the joins between the tiles to create a perfect finish, even when working with the radial sections of stone tiling on curved passages and walkways, which required individual access covers constructed of curvilinear profiles to deliver a high quality, bespoke finish.

The 7500 Series Floor Access Covers were supplied in a range of configurations, including singles for access to rodding points and winch systems, whilst multiparts and ducts up to eight parts were specified to provide access to electrical pits, which house connections between the platforms. Each of the covers withstand up to five tonne pneumatic tyre wheel loads.

Manufactured to BS 476: Part 22: 1987, the covers’ ability to eliminate the potential transmission of smoke and fire from the underground services in the event of a fire was another key consideration of the specification process. The 7500 Series Floor Access Covers provide resistance to fire and smoke for up to two hours, providing the highest standards in safety and performance throughout all areas of the station.

Chris George, Business Development Manager at Howe Green, said: "Howe Green is extremely proud to have been involved in this high profile project at Bond Street Elizabeth line. Each floor access cover was precision made to avoid distortion, ensuring the highest standards in quality and functionality.

"We worked closely with Engie throughout each stage of the procurement and fabrication stages to not only ensure suitability with the initial specification, but to also make sure our floor access covers deliver the same high standards for many years to come, handling the heavy frequency of passenger footfall with ease."