High-speed railway HS2 has confirmed that the Elizabeth line platforms at Old Oak Common in west London will have step-free boarding.

Located between Paddington and Acton Main Line, Old Oak Common will be the 42nd stop on the Elizabeth line, and is located between Paddington and Acton Main Line.

This will make it one of the best-connected stations in the country, with passengers able to take a train from Old Oak Common to over one hundred other stations.

Step-free access has been confirmed in an agreement between HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for London and the Department for Transport.

This follows work on technical, operational, and accessibility issues, and consultation with campaigning groups, accessibility panels, and train operators.

Level boarding at the station required the platforms to be exempted from the usual national platform height requirements.

This exemption has now been approved by the Department for Transport, and allows platforms 5 to 8 to be built at a lower height that is suitable for Elizabeth line trains and complies with the relevant accessibility requirements.

The station will also have solid concrete slab track through the station instead of the usual ballast.

However, HS2 has pointed out that if and when Elizabeth line trains run from other platforms, level boarding will not be available.

HS2 has finished building Old Oak Common’s six underground high-speed platforms, and is now starting work on the eight conventional platforms which are at ground level and will serve the Elizabeth line, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Express.

The small gap and absence of a step between Elizabeth line trains and platforms will allow passengers to board trains with ease.

It will make the service accessible to people such as those with reduced mobility, who would otherwise have to rely on a ramp or staff assistance. Other passengers who will benefit from level boarding include people travelling with luggage or pushchairs and older passengers.

Old Oak Common’s HS2 platforms are underground and will also be step-free. This will enable passengers to interchange between the Elizabeth line and HS2 without encountering a step.

HS2, which underwent a ‘reset’ earlier this year, published research last year showing that the new station could boost the economy in west London by £10 billion over a decade.

Everyone should be able to travel confidently and independently on our rail network, so I’m delighted that passengers using the Elizabeth line at Old Oak Common will benefit from level boarding and seamless step-free access.

This is a practical improvement that will make journeys easier for thousands of people and shows what can be achieved when the rail industry works together to put passengers first.

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy