Passengers using Clapham Junction will benefit from better access, less congestion and improved facilities following the opening of a new entrance on St John's Hill

A £14.5m makeover for Clapham Junction train station in south-west London has been completed.

The upgrade to Britain’s busiest station, including a refurbished ticket hall, nine new lifts and new shops, provides better access, less congestion and improved facilities for the tens of thousands of passengers who use it every day.

As part of the work, an entrance which had been disused for more than 50 years has been brought back to life.

The restoration of the Brighton Yard entrance provides an easier way into the station from St John’s Hill and includes a new taxi rank plus a cycle rack with space for 72 bikes.

Funding for the project came from the Department for Transport, South West Trains, Wandsworth Council, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust, Transport for London and Mayor’s Great Outdoors programme.

The Brighton Yard entrance was disused for more than 50 years before its transformation as part of an upgrade to Clapham Junction station

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “The fantastic new entrance means it is more accessible, brighter and much easier to negotiate. With much-needed traffic improvements and new taxi ranks also installed outside the station, the whole area will now be a calmer place to travel through.”

Councillor Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “Anyone who travels though Clapham Junction will understand how important it is that the overcrowding problems are tackled and we will continue to work with the rail authorities to make sure conditions continue to improve.”

Transport minister Norman Baker said: “Train travel continues to grow in popularity and everyone should be able to benefit from this - that’s why the government is investing £370m through our Access for All scheme which aims to make railway stations more accessible.”

Further changes to the area around Clapham Junction station are planned in the coming years, with TfL setting aside more than £3 million for traffic improvements such as at Battersea Rise where a diagonal crossing will be created at the junction with Northcote Road to create better access for pedestrians.

Clapham Junction will also be a key destination when phase two of the new South London line is completed. This will join the station to the Overground orbital route around the capital.