Turnham Green Prioritised for Step-free Access

On list of tube stations to be considered for improved accessibility

The steps from the westbound platform at Turnham Green

August 6, 2024

Turnham Green has been included on a list of the next 7 stations to be prioritised for step-free access by Transport for London (TfL).

It is to undergo assessment of the feasibility of the upgrade which means the costs and benefits will be considered along with possible funding sources. It is understood that a lift near the entrance hall is being considered for the station.

The announcement represents a major victory for people campaigning for improved accessibility in the Chiswick area. At the moment none of the train or tube stations in the W4 postcode area are fully accessible.

A consultation held last year on station accessibility saw the fifth largest number of respondents coming from the Chiswick area requesting improvements at Turnham Green so it was a significant disappointment when it was not included in the next round of stations to be upgraded.

Although no timetable has been announced, TfL has managed to move from the announcement of a feasibility study to the commencement of design work within a year at other stations. In some cases, it has taken just three years for the upgrade to be delivered.

Today, more than a third of Underground stations across the city provide step-free access, with the Mayor of London’s target set at making 50 per cent of Tube stations step-free by 2030. Progress will depend on deliverability and TfL’s future funding position, with schemes prioritised where there is third party funding available.

So far this year, similar announcements have also been made about feasibility studies to be done at Gunnersbury and Kew Bridge stations which are owned by Network Rail.

Design work is about to start on making Alperton, Arnos Grove and Eastcote Underground stations step-free, building on feasibility work that started last year. North Acton and West Hampstead were announced as being prioritised for assessment earlier this year and design work is due to start soon. They are now joined by seven more stations including Turnham Green. The others are Croxley (Metropolitan line), East Finchley (Northern line), Neasden (Jubilee line), Northwood (Metropolitan line) and Turnham Green (District / Piccadilly lines), as well as Colliers Wood and Tooting Broadway on the Northern line.

John McGeachy, Campaigns Manager for Age UK, said, “Step-free stations have the potential to transform the daily lives of older and disabled Londoners, as well as many others. We really welcome the start of design work towards making three more stations step free, as well as news that more stations are to be assessed for their potential to be made step free. Increasing the number of step-free stations on the Underground network will make life easier for people that have faced too many barriers for too long.”

Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, welcomed the news on Turnham Green station, which is just across the border of his constituency saying, “Making our tube network step free opens up our great city to thousands who are otherwise limited to expensive options. This announcement means an additional five stations across Ealing and Hillingdon earmarked for major accessibility improvements. Wheelchair users, those with limited mobility, parents with young children and older people will be amongst those this will make a massive impact for.

“While there is still work to be done, I am proud that since 2016, the number of step-free stations across London has increased by 20 per cent, meaning there are now more than 200 on TfL's network. I want to see half of all stations become step-free by the end of the decade.

“I’ll continue to make sure TfL do everything they can to make step-free access a reality across our area.”

Bassam Mahfouz, London Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon outside the Turnham Green Station

The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said, “London is for everyone, and the Mayor and I are committed to making London’s transport network as accessible as possible, to enable everyone to enjoy all that London has to offer. I’m pleased that work will begin soon to give three more stations step-free access, and I will continue to work with TfL to keep increasing this number, and build a better, fairer and more accessible London for everyone.”