Commuters face years of chaos and overcrowding at busy Bank station starting later this month as the DLR concourse will be shut down as part of the station’s 2022 upgrade.

Users of the DLR, which links the Dockland area of east London to Bank, will be directed through a one-way system – which could be in place until 2022 – to exit the station instead of using the normal DLR concourse.

Transport for London (TfL) will shut the concourse down to build three new escalators up to the Northern line.

Read more: Bank station is going to get major overhaul but there will be some travel headaches along the way

Northern line commuters will be able to reach the DLR by the existing fixed staircase, but DLR customers wishing to switch to the Northern Line will be redirected on to other platforms, with new signage and staff on hand.

DLR customers will be able to enter and exit Bank and Monument stations as usual but may be forced to take a different route if the station becomes too crowded.

Image credit: Transport for London

Bank – which along with Monument station absorbs 120m passengers every year – is currently undergoing a revamp as part of station upgrade which will increase capacity by 40 per cent by 2022, when the works are due to finish.

TfL says the new escalators will reduce congestion at the station in time for when new DLR trains come into action in 2023.

TfL director of major projects Stuart Harvey said: “Demand at Bank Tube station has risen by around a quarter in recent years and the new escalators to the DLR from the Northern line are essential to managing this increase while making customer journeys quicker and more comfortable by increasing capacity.

“I apologise to customers who may be affected by the concourse closure. We have planned this work to minimise any disruption to customers and staff will be on hand to help people move around the station.”

A revamped Bank station will boast improved capacity (Image credit: Transport for London)

Read more: Severe delays hit Metropolitan line as TfL rolls out new signalling system

Last month one DLR rail worker became an internet sensation with his announcements impersonating the boxing announcer Michael Buffer.

The Bank upgrade works are now over halfway complete, with more than 1,000 metres of new tunnels added.