The London Overground station at Acton Central has benefited from improvements by First Rail London (FRL) that include two new toilets and a redesigned waiting room.

Having been built in 1853, the heritage character of the station has been retained while creating better accessibility and a calmer and more welcoming environment.

First Rail London became the train operating company responsible for operating the London Overground network on behalf of Transport for London (TfL) on 5th May, with a concession that runs until May 2034.

The new toilets include one with accessible features and a baby changing facility@With a heritage going back to 1853, the heritage features of the waiting room have been preserved in a redesign that has created a more practical and pleasant environment.

It now has an accessible entrance, and the layout has been changed to provide extra space and more seating options.

The ceiling has also been lowered to reduce echo and improve the room’s acoustics, and the room has better lighting and has been redecorated with a nature-inspired theme and new planting.

The improvements were made possible through a partnership between Transport for London (TfL) and funding provided by Railway Heritage.

New accessible toilets have also been installed at other stations on the London Overground network, including Clapton, New Cross Gate and White Hart Lane, and facilities at Crystal Palace and Penge have been refurbished.

Emma Strain, TfL’s Customer Director, commented that the new toilet facilities and enhancements to the waiting room at Acton Central will benefit people with a range of needs.

“Everyone should feel confident and comfortable using public transport. Station environments can sometimes feel busy and overwhelming, and we want Acton Central’s waiting room to offer something different and that is a space where customers can step away from the noise of the railway, take a breath, and feel grounded before continuing their journey. We hope these changes encourage wider conversations about how transport environments can better support everyone who uses them, whatever their needs.”

Niall Rooney, Customer Service Director, First Rail London