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

Transport for London (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, 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”.

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.