Case Study: London Underground Limited achieves 45% peak-capacity increase and major congestion relief with Bentley’s LEGION software

London Underground Simulates Passenger Movements on Major Subterranean Station Upgrade

London Underground Limited faced increasing demand and complex passenger flows at the Bank‑Monument station—a subterranean interchange used by over 52 million passengers annually—threatening more frequent closures, crowding, and disruption across the network. To validate designs and quantify congestion and accessibility issues, London Underground Limited partnered with Bentley, using LEGION Simulator (and OpenBuildings Station Designer) to assess upgrade options and operational impacts.

Bentley’s LEGION Simulator guided design and operational choices—testing new entrances, tunnels, and step‑free connections (including two new lifts)—and validated crowd management, evacuation, and construction scenarios. The Bentley tools helped deliver a design that increases peak capacity by 45%, saves an average 197 seconds in the morning peak and 37 seconds in the evening, yields a 4:1 benefit‑to‑cost ratio, improves accessibility, cuts operational CO2 by an estimated 23%, and “future‑proofs” the station through 2081.

London Underground Limited

Madeleine Cox

Principal Planner