Turnham Green Step Free Feasibility Work 'Ongoing'
No update on progress as more stations to be assessed for upgrade
The steep steps at Turnham Green station makes it unusable for many people with disabilities. Picture: ChiswickW4.com
October 3, 2025
More than a year after announcing that Turnham Green station is to be assessed for possible step-free access, Transport for London (TfL) is not giving any details of how the study is progressing.
We asked them for an update following the announcement of 17 additional stations on London Underground at which feasibility studies into full accessibility are to be carried out.
Turnham Green was one of eight sites announced in August 2024 to undergo detailed feasibility assessments. A TfL spokesperson told this publication: “The feasibility work looking at whether step-free access could be introduced at Turnham Green station is still ongoing and TfL will look to provide a further update once that work is completed.”
The new list includes East Putney, Putney Bridge, Wood Green, and Blackhorse Road. All shortlisted stations are used for at least 1.5 million journeys a year—compared to over 2 million at Turnham Green, according to the latest available data from the Office of Rail and Road. East Putney was already the subject of an accessibility report six years ago but it is not know what the conclusions were and not upgrade work was ever carried out.
Both Gunnersbury Station and Kew Bridge are also having feasibility studies carried out. Unlike Turnham Green, they are not managed by London Underground but Network Rail and therefore qualified for funding under the Department for Transport’s Access for All (AfA) funding round covering 2024–2029. It is widely hoped that the planned conversion of Chiswick Tower from office use to residential will provide funding for step free access to the platforms at Gunnersbury.
TfL’s Step-Free Access programme aims to make 50% of the Tube network step-free by 2030. Currently, 93 out of 272 stations meet that standard. The feasibility studies examine technical viability, cost, and potential funding contributions from third parties such as developers or local authorities.
Stations were selected based on several criteria, including:
- Potential to reduce journey times for passengers requiring step-free access
- Physical constraints such as station depth and available space for lift installation
- Gaps in the network where accessible stations are limited
- Opportunities to align with wider regeneration or development plans
While inclusion in the feasibility programme does not guarantee delivery, TfL has stated that stations not shortlisted this time—such as Brent Cross, Rickmansworth, and South Ruislip—may be reconsidered in future years.
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