Surrey Quays station has gone step-free for the first time, with a brand-new entrance, two lifts and a new footbridge giving London Overground customers a fully accessible route to the Windrush line. The south-east London station in Rotherhithe has never had step-free access before, and the upgrade marks the latest advance in the Mayor of London and Transport for London’s drive to make the capital’s transport network accessible to everyone.
At the same time, Northolt station on the West Ruislip branch of the Central line has become step-free thanks to a new lift, making it the 95th station on the Tube network to offer step-free access.
What the new Surrey Quays step-free entrance includes
For the first time, passengers using Surrey Quays can reach both platforms step-free via two new lifts. A new customer footbridge and staircase will provide additional capacity and ease pressure on the station’s existing narrow staircases, which regularly become congested at peak times.
The new entrance sits on the north side of Lower Road and features a spacious ticket hall and a new gateline that is expected to welcome around 60 per cent of customers travelling through the station. That will take the strain off the existing entrance on the south side of Lower Road, which will now serve a far smaller share of passengers.
An accessible toilet and baby-change facilities have been included as part of the works, making journeys more comfortable for disabled passengers and parents travelling with pushchairs or luggage.
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.”
Canada Water regeneration link
The Surrey Quays works also provide quicker and more direct access to Canada Water, where British Land and AustralianSuper are delivering 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.
The project was funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through its Housing Infrastructure Fund programme, with a contribution from British Land, the developer behind the Canada Water masterplan. The improvements form part of a wider programme of enhancements along the Windrush line aimed at unlocking around 14,000 new homes.
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.”
Councillor Victor Chamberlain, deputy leader of Southwark Council, said: “The opening of the new entrance and step-free access at Surrey Quays station is a major investment in the borough’s future and an important step towards creating a fairer and more inclusive borough. These improvements will make everyday journeys easier while ensuring our transport network is accessible to everyone.”
Northolt becomes the 95th step-free Tube station
In west London, Northolt Tube station has also become step-free. A new footbridge from the ticket office to the platform has been constructed alongside a new lift, with manual boarding ramps also available so step-free access is now available from street to train. Two accessible toilets are being provided as part of the improvements and will open shortly.
Northolt sits 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 up new journey options for customers travelling to and from Heathrow on the Superloop bus service.
Wider accessibility drive
More than a third of Tube stations across London are now step-free, while more than half of London Overground stations and all Elizabeth line, DLR and tram stations and stops offer step-free access. TfL’s fleet of around 9,000 buses is 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 passengers 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.
Further stations are in the pipeline: work is due to be completed in summer 2027 to make Leyton station on the Central line step-free, and work has started at Burnt Oak station on the Northern line. Feasibility or design work is underway at 45 further Tube stations, including Alperton and Eastcote, which are both progressing towards the end of the design stage.
Reporting based on Rail UK and Rail Business Daily.
