London’s transport network becomes more accessible this week, with two more stations having opened new step-free routes. This is the latest progress in the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL)’s drive to make London’s transport network as accessible as possible.
A new step-free entrance to Surrey Quays station is now open, giving London Overground customers a fully accessible entrance to the Windrush line for the first time from Surrey Quays. Northolt Tube station, on the West Ruislip branch of the Central line, has also become step-free thanks to a new lift, making journeys easier and more accessible for thousands of Underground customers in line with TfL’s Equity in Motion plan. Northolt will be the 95th station on the Tube network to offer step-free access.
A new customer footbridge and staircase at Surrey Quays will provide additional capacity and reduce pressure on the station’s existing narrow staircases. For the first time, customers using the station can benefit from step-free access to both platforms via two new lifts, making journeys easier for wheelchair users and people travelling with pushchairs or luggage.
At Northolt, a new footbridge from the ticket office to the platform has been constructed alongside a new lift. Manual boarding ramps are also available, meaning step-free access is now available from street to train. Two accessible toilets will also be provided as part of the improvements and will open shortly.
Stuart Harvey, chief capital officer at TfL, said: “We are delighted to be able to open the new entrance at Surrey Quays and launch the new, accessible route at Northolt Tube station. Two more step-free stations coming onto the transport network will make a real difference to the journeys of thousands of our customers, including disabled people, older residents, and parents and carers, who will now find it much easier to use the network.
“The new entrance at Surrey Quays will also increase capacity, reduce congestion and, through our collaboration with British Land and AustralianSuper, create better connections to the growing Canada Water area, supporting thousands of new homes, jobs and leisure opportunities.”
More than a third of Tube stations across London are now step-free, and TfL continues to work with the Mayor of London to improve accessibility across the network. More than half of London Overground stations and all Elizabeth line stations, DLR stations and tram stops offer step-free access, while TfL’s fleet of around 9,000 buses are all fully wheelchair-accessible and around 94 per cent of the capital’s 19,000 bus stops are also accessible.
Reducing the journey time difference for those who rely on step-free access is a key goal of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. Since 2016, there has been a 43 per cent reduction in the average additional journey time for customers requiring step-free access. This is helping to create a fairer, more accessible, and inclusive transport network, opening up more of London to everyone.
The new entrance at Surrey Quays will also provide quicker and more direct access to Canada Water, where British Land and AustralianSuper will deliver around 4,000 new homes, up to two million square feet of workspace, and around one million square feet of new leisure, retail and community amenities over the next decade.
Located on the north side of Lower Road, the new entrance features a spacious ticket hall and a new gateline that is expected to welcome around 60% of customers travelling through the station. This will ease congestion during the busiest times at the existing entrance located on the south side of Lower Road. There is also a new accessible toilet and baby change facilities, making journeys more comfortable.
The improvements at Surrey Quays form part of a wider programme of enhancements along the London Overground Windrush line, helping to unlock around 14,000 new homes. The project has been funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through its Housing Infrastructure Fund programme, with a contribution from British Land, the developer of the Canada Water masterplan.
Gareth Roberts, Head of Canada Water at British Land, said: “Great places need great infrastructure, and genuine regeneration should leave a lasting legacy for the wider community. The new entrance and step-free access at Surrey Quays will make journeys easier for thousands of people, improving accessibility, reducing congestion and creating a better experience for everyone who uses the station.
“Working alongside TfL, we’ve helped deliver a more accessible, higher-capacity station that benefits not only those coming to Canada Water, but also existing residents and the wider area. It’s a great example of how development can help fund infrastructure improvements that make a real difference to local people, while supporting new homes, jobs and opportunities for future generations.”
Northolt station is also on the Superloop SL9 bus route, which links Heathrow Airport and Harrow and is increasing in frequency to up to every 10 minutes from next month. The new step-free facilities will open new journey options for customers travelling to and from Heathrow using the Superloop bus service.
Work is due to be completed in summer 2027 to make Leyton station (Central line) step-free and has started at Burnt Oak station (Northern line). In addition, there are currently 45 Tube stations where step-free access feasibility or design work is already underway, including at Alperton and Eastcote, which are both progressing towards the end of the design stage.
Image: TfL
