Network Rail has announced that Hayes and Harlington station has had its upgrades completed ahead of the Elizabeth Line opening in 2022.
The upgrades to Hayes & Harlington and other stations on the western route have seen new lifts, ticket machines and further station improvements, such as better customer information for the planning of onward journeys.
Upgraded stations completed since March 2021 include Acton Main Line, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, West Drayton and Southall.
Each of the stations on the Elizabeth line will feature step-free access when the line opens with customers already enjoying the benefits of the modernisations such as brand new lifts to the London Underground platform at Moorgate Station, also London Underground and London Overground platforms at Whitechapel once the station had been handed over from Crossrail during the summer months.
Hayes & Harlington station, which runs services by TfL from Paddington, is also an interchange for those making their way to and from Heathrow Airport. The station has undergone huge upgrades, including a total redevelopment of the station entrance into a contemporary glass and steel structure.
Once inside the station, customers will enjoy the light and spacious ticket hall with its inviting atmosphere for passengers and a wider gateline for tickets and contactless payment. In addition, new ticket machines and customer information screens have been installed.
A brand new footbridge connects the ticket hall to the platforms with three new lifts giving step-free access to all five of the station's platforms. Hayes & Harlington Station is staffed at all times when trains are operating and ramps are available for those who require them to get onboard trains.
Every Transport for London rail station runs a turn-up-and-go service for customers who need assistance.
Other new features for the station are a waiting room and toilet and new canopies to give extra shelter for passengers waiting to board trains. The station originally opened in 1868 and must have seen many changes throughout its years of service, the latest being the upgrades and also Network Rail extending all of the platforms in order to provide the Elizabeth line trains which are over 200 metres in length.
Osterley, Sudbury Hill and Harrow-on-the-Hill stations have work underway to bring step free access before the end of 2021.
The new Northern line stations at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station will also be opening with step free access from street to train on the 20th of September when the extension opens.
A large portion of the cost for the Elizabeth line with be funded by London, and once the railway is open, it will be operated as three individual railways. At first passengers travelling from Hayes & Harlington will need to change at Paddington for services into the central part of the route.
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “Completing the transformation of the sixth and final station on the Elizabeth line's Western route brings these Victorian stations into the 21st century and improves services for passengers.
“Hayes & Harlington is the latest station to have step-free access, but every station on the line will have this in place when the Elizabeth line opens next year – a crucial step forward for accessibility in the capital.”
Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “The improvements made to Hayes & Harlington station will make a huge difference to all those using the station, particularly those who need step-free access. It's great to see so many stations being upgraded as part of the Crossrail project as we count down to the opening of the Elizabeth line, which will transform travel across the capital.”
Howard Smith, TfL's Chief Operating Officer for the Elizabeth line, said: “Hayes & Harlington is a busy interchange for customers using Heathrow Airport and now the station has lifts available for anyone who needs to use them, benefitting those travelling with luggage, wheelchair users, as well as those with buggies. The work to deliver the Elizabeth line means that customers using TfL Rail services out of Paddington benefit from stations with new facilities including step-free access ahead of the Elizabeth line opening next year, which will transform accessibility in the capital.”
Elizabeth line Director at Network Rail, Tim Ball, said: “The opening of the new facilities at Hayes & Harlington is a real milestone after years of hard work. It is the sixth and final station in west London to open this year having been transformed by Network Rail and brought into the 21st century as part of the preparation for the Elizabeth line. With gleaming new ticket halls, these stations now all benefit from massively improved passenger flow and enhanced accessibility with lifts and footbridges delivering the promise of step free access to all platforms serving the Elizabeth line.”
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The station looks lot better than before. Wish that there were more improvements to be done at Hanwell including platform extension to accommodate 9-Car Class 345 Elizabeth Line trains.