New lift in tube station is first of its kind in UK

On Tuesday, Greenford tube station unveiled a brand new lift, which is said to be the first of its kind in the UK. The gradient lift will work alongside the escalator and stairs, and now means that the station is completely step-free for the first time since its opening in 1947. It is thought that MPs have been campaigning for a lift to be part of the tube station since 1951.

This makes Greenford the 67th step-free tube station in London, marking another great achievement for TfL, who ambitiously hope to make half of the capital’s stations step-free by 2018. It is thought that the lift cost £2.2 million to install, despite an initial estimate of £10 million.

The Mayor of Ealing, Harbhajan Kaur Dheer, was present at the opening of the lift, alongside a number of other cabinet members and local residents. The addition will to the tube station will make a huge difference for many people living in Greenford and the surrounding area, especially those who rely on wheel chairs or stairlifts for the elderly on a day to day basis.

New addition has “given the whole area a lift"

An initial estimated cost of £10m meant that the lift was deemed unaffordable, but a deal was later struck between TfL and Ealing council, who contributed £200,000 towards the £2.2m total. The project is a great example of clever innovations which are allowing public places such as tube stations to become available to older and disabled people at a reasonable price.

Ealing Cabinet member for Environment, Transport & Leisure councillor Bassam Mahfouz, told Get West London: “It will mean the world of difference for thousands of local residents, especially those who are disabled or travelling with young children, some of whom will now be able to access London for the first time in their lives because of this new lift.”

Image Credit: R/DV/RS (flickr.com)