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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