Transport officials push for redesign to ensure level boarding for all services after concerns raised about accessibility.

Transport officials are re-evaluating the design of the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common in west London to ensure it meets full accessibility standards. Andy Lord, the commissioner for Transport for London (TfL), emphasized that failing to make the station fully accessible would be a major setback. He is currently in discussions with the Government to address the concerns.

The new station, located between Acton and Paddington, is set to serve as a temporary terminus for the HS2 line to Birmingham, until the permanent Euston station is completed. In the interim, passengers will be encouraged to use the Elizabeth line, which will also serve the station, in addition to national rail services operated by Great Western Railway (GWR).

While HS2 platforms will provide level boarding, the Elizabeth line platforms are currently not designed with level access for all passengers. This creates a significant issue for passengers with mobility difficulties, such as those in wheelchairs, who will be forced to use ramps to board trains. This would hinder an interchange into central London, making it impossible for some passengers to transfer between services without assistance from station staff.

The problem arises due to the different platform heights needed to accommodate GWR trains and some freight services alongside the Elizabeth line trains. The matter was brought to light by Caroline Pidgeon, a Liberal Democrat who recently joined the House of Lords, who described it as a “scandal” that a new railway station would lack complete accessibility for all passengers.

The issue gained more attention this week after Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic gold medallist, shared her experience of having to “crawl off” an LNER train at London King’s Cross due to inadequate accessibility. Lib Dem assembly member Hina Bokhari raised this incident at a London Assembly meeting, linking it to the ongoing discussions about Old Oak Common.

Mr Lord described the experience of Baroness Grey-Thompson as “absolutely horrendous” and reassured the public that discussions were ongoing with the Department for Transport. He confirmed that the design of the Great Western station at Old Oak Common, including the Elizabeth line platform, was under review to ensure level access for all passengers. Although a final design has not been confirmed, Mr Lord stressed that the goal is to avoid opening a station that does not meet accessibility standards. He stated, “It would be an absolute failing on everybody’s part,” and reaffirmed that TfL was pushing hard to ensure the Government addresses this critical issue.