Step-free access complete at Mill Hill East Tube station

Customers using Mill Hill East Tube station will now be able to enter and exit step-free as Transport for London (TfL) confirms that work to modernise the station has been completed.

Mill Hill East serves the Northern line, London’s busiest Tube line, and sees almost 1.4 million customer journeys each year. Access to the transport network for people with accessibility needs will be vastly improved, with a new lift and link bridge having transformed the station.

The new lift and link bridge were built off-site and craned into the station in August last year in a complex overnight operation. This reduced the amount of time that engineers needed to work on site, ensuring that disruption to customers was kept to a minimum. Since then contractors have worked hard to divert critical services, upgrade the station systems and install the lift.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “The introduction of step-free access at Mill Hill East will improve the daily lives of passengers who use this busy station, especially disabled people, older people and those with young children. I’m pleased that 11 more Tube stations are set to become step free this year – helping make our transport network more accessible for everyone.”

Tim Morrison, Director of Renewals and Enhancements at London Underground, said: “Mill Hill East station becoming step-free will make a positive difference to thousands of our customers. It will now be much easier for those with mobility needs, heavy luggage or with children in buggies to access the Tube at this station. Improving accessibility across London’s transport network is one of our top priorities, with making stations step-free a key part of this work.”

Mill Hill East is the 79^th station to become step-free on the London Underground network and the 11^th since 2016. Another 11 Tube stations will become step free this year – meaning a third of the Tube network will be fully accessible for customers with mobility needs, heavy luggage or with children in buggies. In addition, since 2016, 10 TfL Rail stations and three London Overground stations have been made step-free.

The next phase of the London Underground Accessibility Programme will see another eight Tube stations made step-free by spring 2024. This will make 38 per cent of the Tube network fully accessible.

The continued modernisation of the Tube is a key part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy to make London a greener, more accessible place. The investment in improving public transport will help reduce reliance on the car and contribute to the Mayor’s target of 80 per cent of journeys made by public transport, cycling or walking by 2041.

Photo credit: Transport for London

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