The total project cost of the Vauxhall Tube station improvements has been reduced by more than £9m from £45m through working closely with contractor Bechtel.

The Tube station will remain open during the work with two sites formed outside the station in December, to support the work within.

Bechtel’s project manager, Hani Rizkallah said: “Using Six Sigma, best practices in supply chain management and sustainability we have developed together with London Underground a more cost-effective construction method, which also reduces the environmental impact”

Passengers numbers at Vauxhall Underground station will soar 40% over the next few years. To create extra space, the ticket hall will be reconfigured to fit more ticket gates.

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 the Victoria line trains.

David Waboso, Capital Programmes Director, London Underground, said: “Vauxhall is a very busy Tube station, with about 21 million people using it annually, and it’s set to get busier.”

The upgrade work will be completed by the end of 2015.