Network Rail has finished its work to make Streatham station more accessible by providing step-free access to all the station's platforms.
The £5m upgrade involved installing two lifts to connect the ticket hall with the platforms. Passengers with mobility impairments or travelling with luggage, children or bicycles will now be able to move around the station without using steps.
As part of the upgrade project, Network Rail also:
- realigned the stairs on platform 2
- renewed stairs and handrails on platform 1
- refreshed lighting and extra CCTV to enhance safety and comfort, particularly for passengers travelling during darkness.
Streatham is in London's Zone three, and is served by both Southern and Thameslink service. There are nearly two million exits from and entries to the station each year.
The Department for Transport's (DfT) ‘Access for All' scheme funded the upgrades. The scheme aims to support projects that will create an obstacle-free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms. These projects usually include installing lifts or ramps, often accompanied by other adjustments and refurbishment along the route.
Hodan Hassan, Network Rail's commercial scheme sponsor, said: “We're delighted to have completed work on the Access for All scheme at Streatham station, which now provides passengers with step-free access to both platforms and generally a more pleasant experience when travelling by train.
“We welcome the continued investment from the DfT to support us in making even more stations fully accessible and we have a number of other stations across our Southern region that are currently being upgraded or about to benefit from accessibility improvements in the coming months.
“We would like to thank passengers and local residents for their patience and understanding while we carried out this work and we hope passengers enjoy this newly upgraded station.”
Carl Martin, Govia Thameslink Railway's (GTR) accessibility lead, said: “We're working constantly to remove barriers to make our services easier to use for everyone, so on behalf of our Streatham customers I'm delighted that all platforms now have direct step-free access. Praise is due to Network Rail for installing these lifts on schedule and with minimal disruption.
“In the New Year our station improvement programme will be complementing this major scheme and refreshing the station with a new wide access gate and redecoration of the concourse and overbridge.”
