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Step-free access feasibility work to start at Barkingside, Brent Cross, Preston Road, Queensbury, and Totteridge & Whetstone Underground stations as part of the Mayor and TfL's ongoing work to improve transport network accessibility

• Builds on work already completed, or well underway, to add more step-free stations to the Tube network, including at Colindale (completed December 2025), Northolt (due summer 2026) and Leyton (due spring 2027)
• In total, 40 Tube stations are currently in the feasibility or design stages of step-free access work before these new five stations are included 

Transport for London (TfL) yesterday (Thursday 26 March) confirmed that five additional Tube stations will be assessed for step-free access feasibility, as part of the Mayor and TfL's ongoing work to make the capital's transport network more accessible.

Feasibility studies will be conducted at Barkingside, Brent Cross, Preston Road, Queensbury, and Totteridge & Whetstone Underground stations, examining the opportunities, options and constraints for making these stations step-free. This is in addition to the 40 Tube stations where step-free access feasibility or design work is already underway.

Making London's transport network as accessible and inclusive as possible is a key priority for the Mayor and TfL, with delivering step-free access at Underground stations a cornerstone of this work. More than a third of Underground stations across the city currently provide step-free access, with Colindale the most recent addition when it became the 94th Tube station to become step-free in December 2025. Work to make Northolt station step-free is due to be completed this summer and Leyton station is scheduled to become step-free in spring 2027.

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, said:

'London is for everyone, and the Mayor and I are committed to making our transport network as accessible as possible, so that more people can enjoy all our great city has to offer. We're pleased to see five more stations proceed to feasibility studies in the next stage of TfL's step-free access programme, which is vital progress in improving accessibility across the network as we continue building a fairer, better London for everyone.'

Alex Williams, TfL's Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, said: 

'Making more Tube stations step-free is a major part of our work to make the transport network more accessible. This work always starts with conducting feasibility studies at stations to assess their suitability, so putting five additional stations under the spotlight is another important step towards making the Tube as accessible as possible.'

Cllr Jo Blackman, cabinet member for environment and sustainability at Redbridge Council, said: 

'It is great news that Barkingside station will be included in the feasibility work for step-free access. We are pleased that TfL has listened to our requests to include Barkingside in the programme, along with Snaresbrook station. Step-free access would mean that more of our residents and visitors to the borough would be able to access the Tube network - including those with disabilities as well as those with buggies and younger children. We look forward to seeing the results of the feasibility study which hopefully brings us a step closer to making Barkingside more accessible for all.'

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, said:

'Every new step-free station is a step towards a fairer Brent. Accessible transport is not a luxury, it is a basic right, and too many residents have been locked out of opportunities because our network has not worked for everyone.

'That is why we will keep working with TfL and the Mayor of London to go further and faster on step-free access, so every community in Brent can benefit from a transport network that is truly inclusive.'

The five additional Tube stations being assessed were included within TfL's long-list of 30 stations that could progress to feasibility study stage, selected last year, with 17 of these already confirmed as progressing. The process for shortlisting stations examines factors such as customer benefits, deliverability, geographical spread and the local development and regeneration context.

However, progress on delivering step-free access at these stations will depend on deliverability and TfL's future funding position, with schemes prioritised where there is significant third-party funding available. In recent years, TfL has worked with Government, local authorities, developers and businesses to secure third party funding towards delivering step-free access at Colindale, Knightsbridge, Leyton and Paddington Tube stations. 

Notes to editors:

• The five additional stations where feasibility work will be carried out are: Barkingside (Central line), Brent Cross (Northern line, Edgware branch), Preston Road (Metropolitan line), Queensbury (Jubilee line) and Totteridge & Whetstone (Northern line, High Barnet branch). 
• In April 2025, TfL confirmed a longlist of 30 stations where work was carried out to determine which stations would be selected for full feasibility studies. These stations were chosen using an approach focused on:
  • Benefits to customers, such as reducing journey times for those needing to use step-free access
  • Factors that could impact the delivery of step-free access such as the feasibility and number of required new lifts, sufficient space for work to be carried out, and the depth of each Tube station
  • Addressing gaps in areas that have few step-free stations 
  • The potential to align with new development opportunities and to support regeneration priorities for local authorities 
• In September 2025, TfL confirmed that 17 Tube stations from this list had been selected for full feasibility studies. TfL has now selected a further five stations to proceed to feasibility study stage. While TfL is funding these studies, the subsequent development and delivery of schemes will be dependent on TfL's future funding position, with deliverable schemes prioritised where there is significant third-party funding available
• These feasibility studies build on work already underway to increase the number of step-free Tube stations on the London Underground network, including:
  • Continuing work to make Northolt Tube station step-free, with works due to be completed by summer 2026
  • Continuing work to make Leyton station step-free, with works due to complete in spring 2027
  • Continuing work to make Surrey Quays station step-free (London Overground), with works due to complete in summer 2026
  • Carrying out design work at Burnt Oak station following a review of costs and benefits, with a refresh of the detailed design
  • Carrying out design work at Alperton, Arnos Grove, Eastcote, Finchley Road, West Hampstead and White City stations 
• These ongoing schemes build on the considerable progress already made in making the network step-free; more than a third of the Tube network, over half of London Overground stations and all Elizabeth line stations, DLR stations and tram stops have step-free access. TfL's fleet of around 9,000 buses are all wheelchair-accessible, and around 94 per cent of TfL's 19,000 bus stops are also accessible