Plans to make more London Underground stations accessible

The London Underground will next month launch a bridge-style ramp at many of its stations, allowing even more stations to become accessible to those with mobility issues. It is part of a plan to make 25 stations on the London Underground network become completely step free over the next decade.

London’s underground railway network is a vital part of the capital’s transport network and Transport for London (TfL) have been working hard to make it one of the best in the world. This latest announcement about making tube stations more accessible is part of this aim and is sure to help those who rely on straight stair lifts and other mobility aids to navigate London’s busy transport system.

Bridge-style ramp
The new bridge-style ramp will allow those with mobility difficulties to board and alight from trains easily, whereas before a combination of a gap and a step-down meant that traditional ramps could not be used. Approval has been given by the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail Regulation, which means that Wembley Park, Kilburn and Stanmore stations will be the first to get these new ramps in June. More stations will also be given the ramp later in the summer.

Mayor Boris Johnson and TfL have said that they hope this latest development will, “embed the legacy of accessible travel promised after the 2012 Games”.

Over the next 10 years, TfL will be investing £250 million to make 25 London Underground and London Overground stations step-free, and this latest addition of the bridge-style ramp is part of making these stations accessible to all.

TfL is not the only large organisation that has been working hard to make its facilities accessible – we reported earlier this month that easy access baths and showers for this with limited mobility have been installed at Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates stadium. Read the article here.   

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