Latest Rail News

29.06.17

TfL reveals next Underground stations to be given step-free access

TfL has today announced the next six Underground stations that will be upgraded to provide step-free access for passengers in London.

Amersham, Buckhurst Hill, Cockfosters, Mill Hill East, Osterley and South Woodford will all be upgraded to provide better accessibility as part of London mayor Sadiq Khan’s £200m programme to improve station access for disabled people over the next five years.

It follows two outer London stations, Newbury Park and Harrow-on-the-Hill, being confirmed for the upgrade last year.

And earlier this year, TfL revealed that the search had begun for a partner to deliver its South Kensington Tube upgrade that included installing step-free access to the District and Circle line.

Work to Buckhurst Hill on the Central Line will begin this year, while improvements to the remaining five stations will start next year. The work on all of the stations is scheduled to be completed by 2020.

When the whole £200m programme is complete, the number of stations with step-free access will stand at 100 across the Tube network – around 40% of all stations.

Mark Wild, London Underground’s managing director, said: “Improving accessibility across London to enable all Londoners and visitors to the city to travel spontaneously and independently is one of our top priorities.

“We have made good progress but we're determined to accelerate the pace so that this vision becomes a reality for the millions of people who use our network every day.

“We are investing more than ever before and I'm delighted that we're now in a position to confirm the next tranche of stations to benefit from this unprecedented investment.”

And Catherine Smith, campaigns and outreach officer for Transport for All, said the announcement was great news for disabled and older people in the capital.

“With only one out of five Tube stations step-free, there aren’t many accessible travel options for us on the London Underground,” she said. “Step-free access at these stations will open up the Tube network to disabled people especially from outer London, helping us to travel with freedom and independence.”

Top Image: Tim Ireland, PA Images

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Comments

Helen   29/06/2017 at 22:06

It is fantastic news to hear that Cockfosters is to be made step free, it has always been such a struggle to haul suitcases and buggies up and down the steps and at last we won't have to rely on having a second pair of hands to help - this is long overdue. As a user of this station for 40 years plus, it will be very welcome for all and make the lives of our many local seniors with impaired mobility so much easier. It's a pretty station with flower tubs tended by the staff and a Xmas tree in winter and step free access will only enhance its appeal.

Mark   30/06/2017 at 17:36

I cannot understand why with all the investment in new trains, Crossrail etc, why the refurb at Tottenham Court Road etc - the platforms cannot be level as has been achieve round the circle line for S7/S8 stock. EVERY station closure should while closed for lifts etc, then match by adjusting track level to no level change between train and platform. Surely common sense?

Andrew Gwilt   30/06/2017 at 22:25

Was thinking about Sadiq Khan. Because he is helping to improve capacity and to help improve transportation across London. And to allow step free access to be introduced at all stations for the disabled commuters who live in London and across Greater London and to introduce easier access for Londoners to commute by train and tube.

James Palma   04/07/2017 at 16:23

Sigh. Some points... People are complaining of high fares in London. The mayor has frozen fares in London. The government has said they are cutting funding to TfL. Who is paying for all of these upgrades and the installation of socially wanted niceties? In reality these lifts cost more over their whole life cycle (planning, design, installation, operation, maintenance, replacement) than the benefit they actually give to the collective minority number of passengers that ACTUALLY need to use those lifts. In other words. Do fare payers really want to pay more on their fare to pay for lifts that they probably have no real reason to use or will probably have no reason to use? In reality, only a minority of people actually need to use these lifts. Yes, it is only a minority. If people want it why not ask if they are willing to pay more on their fare for it to be installed. I doubt they would when they find out the actual costs overall costs to them! And on the point of levelling platforms, is that cost effective? how would it be done? how long would a line closure take? what inconvenience will there be? How will tunnel height be adjusted to accommodate level platforms? who will pay for it? Again, sadly a social nicety, but one that people are not willing to pay higher fares for. I suggest people read H.G Follenfant, 1974. Reconstructing London's Underground. To see the costs of such works and what is actually involved. Plus add in that people want to have a nice lift installed so they do not have to queue for the escalator. And they do not wan to pay extra. And that processes for getting these works done have got so tangled in red tape they are virtually impossible to achieve.

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