The government has confirmed it is pushing ahead with plans to add lifts to more London railway stations, but has also cancelled several expected station upgrades.
Bushey station (c) ianVisits
There are stations that the Department for Transport (DfT) says are progressing to detailed design. These include Dalston Kingsland, Esher, Gunnersbury, Kew Bridge, and Raynes Park. Gunnersbury was already progressing to design work, so that’s more of a confirmation of what was already known.
However, where the DfT giveth, it also taketh away – and several stations won’t be progressing at this time. Within London, those include Bushey, South Croydon and Upminster.
The DfT has also put on hold several previously approved schemes at Cricklewood and Palmers Green, saying the costs and disruption of adding the lifts outweigh the benefits. Elsewhere, Brondesbury’s upgrade has been delayed to 2028/29 to align with planned station platform renewal works.
The Rail Minister has written to the MP representing each of the 50 stations announced by the previous government. He has also offered to meet to explain the decision regarding the projects that will not proceed at this time.
The full list:
The 8 projects are progressing directly to delivery:
Ash Vale
Colchester
Port Sunlight
Thirsk
Walton (Merseyside)
Bellgrove
Aigburth (already in delivery)
Rock Ferry (already in delivery)
The 23 projects are progressing to detailed design:
Battle
Bodmin Parkway
Bredbury
Castle Cary
Dalston Kingsland
Dorchester South
Esher
Falkirk Grahamston
Flowery Field
Gunnersbury
Hedge End
High Brooms
Kew Bridge
Kidbrooke
Marden
Newton for Hyde
Raynes Park
Ruabon
Shotton
Swanwick
Ulverston
Wymondham
Yeovil Junction
The 19 projects will not be progressing at this point:
Bushey
Chinley
Church and Oswaldtwistle
Dudley Port
Dumbarton Central
Inverurie
Leagrave
Ledbury
Maidstone West
Neath
Sileby
Sleaford
Small Heath
South Croydon
Stamford
Stroud
Upminster
Whitchurch (Shropshire)
Wivelsfield