I wish to know why Northfields station was not included in the latest list of TFL stations chosen to receive funding for step-free access when three other smaller intermediate stations in Ealing (Boston Manor, North Ealing and Park Royal) with lower passenger footfall levels were chosen. Those stations only have two platforms while Northfields is an important local passenger hub station with four platforms and is also an important train journey start and destination station with many potential users who would benefit from the installation of two lifts as at Acton Town station.I have only received vague responses to my requests so far. Copies of relevant minutes of meetings where the suitability of Northfields station for step-free access was considered together with an estimate of the cost of installing lifts there would be useful.

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Dear

TfL Ref: FOI-0288-1819

Thank you for your email received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5 May 2018.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

I wish to know why Northfields station was not included in the latest list of TFL stations chosen to receive funding for step-free access when three other smaller intermediate stations in Ealing (Boston Manor, North Ealing and Park Royal) with lower passenger footfall levels were chosen. Copies of relevant minutes of meetings where the suitability of Northfields station for step-free access was considered together with an estimate of the cost of installing lifts there would be useful.

During the early phases of the step free prioritisation work, stations estimated to cost in excess of £10m were not progressed. The cost of installing two lifts at Northfields station is estimated to be well in excess of this, we estimate in the region of £15m. Therefore no detailed feasibility study has been undertaken for the station, but an initial examination of the station plans show that delivery of step-free access would be fairly complex at this location. The two island platforms are too narrow to accommodate lifts close to the bottom of the stairs, which are located at the extreme western ends. So that the lifts can be located further along the platform, the construction of an elevated walkway (approximately 30 metres long) would be required and this would involve building over the tracks, which means that the two innermost platforms would have to be closed for the duration of the work. We would also have to cut the lift shaft into the existing concrete canopies over the platforms, which could prove challenging for engineering and heritage reasons (the station has Grade II listed status). The location of the station means that it is difficult to deliver the large amounts of building materials and any construction worksite would be very constrained. While none of these issues are necessarily insurmountable, they do all add up to make the installation of step-free access at Northfields station more complex and more expensive than at the other stations.

In addition to cost and the complexity of the building work, we also considered the strategic benefits of delivering step-free access at particular stations and the potential for linkages to development. . As well as catering for existing passengers at Boston Manor from surrounding residential areas and local facilities like schools and the park, we are expecting future growth in demand arising from development in the Great West corridor, both new homes and jobs. There are around 1400 additional new homes planned in the Western cluster of this Opportunity Area.  Boston Manor station also serves the Sky Complex and other employment sites on the Great West Corridor. Sky has circa 7500 employees currently with more growth anticipated and they envisage providing a new direct link between the campus and the station.

Park Royal station serves the Park Royal industrial estate/business area, which has a workforce of over 43,000 people. Furthermore it is the station used by patients, staff and visitors to Central Middlesex Hospital. It is also one of the stations which will cater for the significant growth in the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area, which is expected to deliver a minimum of 26,900 new homes and a minimum of 71,600 new jobs over the coming  decades. 

Whilst the catchment for North Ealing is similar to Northfields, our step free plans have a simple design and will be far easier to deliver than at Northfields. 

We do envisage that this £200m is just the first phase of improving the accessibility of the London Underground. We are now in the early stages of planning the next phase of the project which will start delivery in 2022. As part of this planning we will be in contact with the local authorities and other stakeholders so that we can discuss their priorities.

There are no meeting minutes regarding making Northfields station step free.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

I wish to know why Northfields station was not included in the latest list of TFL stations chosen to receive funding for step-free access when three other smaller intermediate stations in Ealing (Boston Manor, North Ealing and Park Royal) with lower passenger footfall levels were chosen. Those stations only have two platforms while Northfields is an important local passenger hub station with four platforms and is also an important train journey start and destination station with many potential users who would benefit from the installation of two lifts as at Acton Town station.I have only received vague responses to my requests so far. Copies of relevant minutes of meetings where the suitability of Northfields station for step-free access was considered together with an estimate of the cost of installing lifts there would be useful.

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