Cockfosters becomes 80th step-free London Underground station

12 Oct 2020 03:57 PM

Lift installed at northern terminus of the Piccadilly line.

Customers using Cockfosters Tube station can now enter and exit step-free as work to modernise the station has been completed.

TfL has finished work on installing a lift at the northern terminus of the Piccadilly line, making Cockfosters the 80th Tube station to become step-free.

The lift shaft was craned into the station in a complex overnight operation, with the lift itself built on site. Serving both platforms, it will vastly improve access to the station and wider transport network for people with accessibility needs.

New tiling and brick work around the new lift was carefully selected to match the Grade II listed station's heritage design.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, yesterday said:

”Making London's public transport network more accessible is one of our key priorities, and it's great to see Cockfosters Tube station become step-free.

“These changes will make a huge difference to those with accessibility needs who use this station, and we continue to work on making more stations step-free, significantly improving people's journeys.”

Tim Morrison, Director of Renewals and Enhancements at London Underground, yesterday said:

”I'm delighted that construction to make Cockfosters Tube station step-free is now complete.

“The new lift will make a positive difference to our customers, making it much easier for those with mobility needs, heavy luggage or with children in buggies to access the Tube at this station.”

The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, yesterday said:

“This is great news for Enfield residents and will encourage more widespread use of the Tube network.

“Initiatives like this mean people are more likely to use public transport and leave the car at home, supporting our wider efforts to tackle climate change and make our borough carbon neutral by 2040.”

Cockfosters is the 12th station since 2016 to become step-free on the London Underground. The next phase of the London Underground Accessibility Programme will see a further seven Tube stations made step-free: Amersham, Debden, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Ickenham, Osterley, Sudbury Hill and Wimbledon Park.

Work is currently progressing at all seven stations. Lift towers have now been installed at all of these stations except Sudbury Hill, and one lift tower is still to be installed at Harrow-on-the-Hill.

At other stations, brickwork, panelling and glazing around the lift shafts and access bridges is now progressing. Amersham is scheduled to be the next station to become step-free, with engineers currently installing the lifts into the completed shafts.

Making travel easier for Londoners with accessibility needs is a top priority for TfL. New app TfL Go has been launched to help customers plan the best route and travel outside of peak times.

The app also provides improved accessibility information presenting easy-to-navigate views of all stations with street-to-platform accessibility.

It shows where step-free access is available in one direction and step-free interchange between lines, opening up more of London to customers with accessibility needs.

Notes to Editors

• Manual boarding ramps will continue to be available with a 'turn up and go' service for customers who need assistance between the platform and train at Cockfosters
• There are 12 blue badge parking spaces provided by TfL next to Cockfosters Tube station
• TfL is continuing the wider work on the redevelopment of Colindale Tube station and recently awarded a contract to Morgan Sindall for the detailed design. This would include a completely new station building with more space for customers, the installation of a lift making the station step-free and an enlarged ticket hall. The plans were awarded planning permission by Barnet Council last year
• Work to make Knightsbridge Tube station step-free will be completed as planned in 2021/22.TfL is also committed to delivering step-free access to the Circle and District line at South Kensington station, which will be completed through a joint property development with Native Land currently going through planning
• Since 2016, the following 12 Tube stations have become step-free: Tower Hill, Vauxhall, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street, Bromley-by-Bow, Buckhurst Hill, Victoria, Newbury Park, Finsbury Park, South Woodford, Mill Hill East and Cockfosters
• There are now more than 200 step-free stations across the TfL network. These include: 80 Tube stations, 60 London Overground stations, 25 TfL Rail stations and all DLR stations and Tram stops