Having highlighted that 198 London Underground Stations are NOT step free ‘Transport for London’ have outlined their plans for the future.
“In December 2016, the Mayor of London announced that he will instigate the biggest boost to step-free access on the Underground in the network’s 153 history, by investing an additional £200m over the next five years. As part of its business plan, TfL has committed to making more than 30 additional Tube stations step-free by 2021/2022. The move brings the total number of stations with step-free access to all platforms to more than 100, representing more than 40 per cent of the Underground network and significantly increasing the proportion from the current level of 26 per cent”.
But compare £200m with the £50billion allotted to HS2! We can’t rationalise that and we have written to the Prime Minister for her views. In an open letter we have asked for the reasons why so much money is being spent to cut a few minutes off the journey times to the Midlands – and still leave the capital with over half its stations not easily accessible to disabled people. We wrote:-
Dear Prime Minister
In the 21st century in England’s capital city could you please advise as to why just 72 of 270 London Underground Stations have step free access?
Although plans from ‘Transport for London’ aim to increase the number of accessible stations to 100 by 2021/2022 this still only represents 40 per cent of the network.
And yet, with over £50billion (and rising?) earmarked for HS2, can you explain the thinking behind cutting journey times to the midlands by a few minutes – whilst denying reasonable access to 198 stations for tens and tens of thousands of disabled people?
We would respectfully suggest that the latter is of greater benefit for the UK .. and also to disabled people who physically find life hard enough without the extra burden of accessing tube stations that are only primarily cater for the fit and able-bodied.
PLANNED STEP FREE ACCESS WORK
*Bank station to become step-free to Waterloo & City line; *Bond Street station to become step-free; *Bromley-by-Bow to become step-free; * Finsbury Park, Newbury Park and Whitechapel stations to be made step-free; *Paddington station to be made step-free between the Bakerloo Line and the Elizabeth Line’s step-free station; *Buckhurst Hill to be made step-free; *Elizabeth Line opens with ten new step-free stations; *Knightsbridge station to be made step-free; * The remaining Elizabeth Line (national rail) stations to become step-free; * Harrow-on-the-Hill, Amersham, Cockfosters, Mill Hill East, Osterley and South Woodford stations to become step-free; *Bank station to be step-free to Northern Line; *Elephant and Castle station to be made step-free to the Northern Line; *Around 20 more Tube stations will be made step-free under the £200m accessibility programme. The names of these stations will be announced at the end of 2017.