Request ID: FOI-0922-2324 Date published: 19 July 2023
You asked
Hi TfL,
Hope you guys are doing good and have had a good weekend! I just wanted to ask you all this time about Knightsbridge Station's upgrades on the Piccadilly Line.
You see back in 2017, TfL announced the Knightsbridge station is going to have an upgrade where the station will be given Step-Free Access by reopening the 90-year-old Passageways, Tunnels, Corridors, Lift Shafts and the disused entrances on Brompton Road & Hoopers Court/ Basil Street that have been shut since 1934 - before WW2!
Here is a screenshot of the Press Release article from the TfL website:
As you can see in the attached image above, they mention that the station will be step-free by 2020 - but we're already 3 years ahead of that and the station still isn't step-free (or at least not shown as such on the latest tube map).
Even the station's Wikipedia article says that it was meant to be step free by 2021 when I checked then, here's the screenshot:
Additionally, the other info I can find is the Step-free Accessibility page on your website which had been saying that the station upgrades will be ready by 2022 in the image:
Finally, the Knightsbridge stations' page on the TfL website says that this is meant to be opened by 2023:
Other than that, I haven't been able to find any sort of much news articles of recent times giving any kind of updates given that we're now half-way through 2023, and even the ones I showed you here from reliable sources all show 4 different years - 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 - for the completion of the same project.
1) Hence, could you kindly just confirm about what's up with Knightsbridge Station's step-free access status quo and when will the station become step-free with the new reopened station building after 90 years?
(if it is now guaranteed to open in 2023, can you roughly estimate the month around when you're expecting it to open as we're already half-way through the year please)
2) Secondly, would you mind letting me know why has it taken at least 3 years of extra delays to complete the installation of just a couple of lifts along already-existing (disused) corridors from 1906 that just needed refurbishment, considering other tube stations that also had step-free programmes got completed quickly after covid?
3) Finally in particular about the new entrances & station buildings, in that the original 1906 Stations' 2 entrances (until the 1934 escalator refurbishments) were located on Brompton Road (not to be confused with the disused station of the same name down the line that also closed in 1934) as well as on the corner of Basil Street & Hoopers Court - so because the original (abandoned) lift shafts are being brought back to life nearly a century later...are the closed exits on these 2 ends just mentioned also being reopened after some 90 years?
Thank you :)
We answered
TfL Ref: 0922-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 25 June 2023 asking for information about Knightsbridge Tube station.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked: 1) Hence, could you kindly just confirm about what's up with Knightsbridge Station's step-free access status quo and when will the station become step-free with the new reopened station building after 90 years? (if it is now guaranteed to open in 2023, can you roughly estimate the month around when you're expecting it to open as we're already half-way through the year please)
2) Secondly, would you mind letting me know why has it taken at least 3 years of extra delays to complete the installation of just a couple of lifts along already-existing (disused) corridors from 1906 that just needed refurbishment, considering other tube stations that also had step-free programmes got completed quickly after covid?
3) Finally in particular about the new entrances & station buildings, in that the original 1906 Stations' 2 entrances (until the 1934 escalator refurbishments) were located on Brompton Road (not to be confused with the disused station of the same name down the line that also closed in 1934) as well as on the corner of Basil Street & Hoopers Court - so because the original (abandoned) lift shafts are being brought back to life nearly a century later...are the closed exits on these 2 ends just mentioned also being reopened after some 90 years?
The step free entrance is significantly more complex than the addition of lifts. The project includes provision of a new ticket hall, and extensive works to old and long-disused tunnels to accommodate passengers. We also have to install systems and services required to bring this space into modern day operational use, and in compliance with current standards. We have encountered a number of significant challenges since 2020 including the Covid pandemicand the subsequent loss of contractors which led to a re-tendering process.This was in addition to unexpected additional design work required to meet the challenge of installing new station systems and infrastructure works within the original Victorian tunnelling section.
This project has no works relating to an entrance on Basil street, we have a relocated entrance on Brompton Road and a new planned step-free entrance and ticket hall at Hooper’s Court. The heritage façade on Basil Street has been retained as part of the developer’s work, including the section at Hooper’s Court.
Please see diagram below which shows the scope of SFA project:
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any 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
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
