Elizabeth line passengers will have level boarding at Old Oak Common after plans for the new west London station were changed to remove the need for ramps for many travellers — although it could be another decade from now before they can use it.
Platforms 5 to 8 at Old Oak Common station, located between East Acton and North Acton, will now be built to match the height of Elizabeth line trains, removing much of the step and gap when passengers get on and off.
The original plans would have required ramps for some passengers. The change means many wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility should be able to board without assistance, while boarding will also be easier for people with luggage or pushchairs.
London’s Transport Commissioner Andy Lord said Elizabeth line passengers were expected to account for around 90% of interchanges at Old Oak Common, making level boarding “vital for the safety and accessibility of our customers”.
Old Oak Common will become the 42nd station on the Elizabeth line and will also connect with HS2, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Express services.
However, there is still no confirmed date for Elizabeth line trains to begin stopping at the station.
As previously reported by EALING.NEWS, Ealing Central and Acton MP Dr Rupa Huq asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander in May whether the Elizabeth line platforms could open before HS2 services.
The Government currently expects the first HS2 trains between Old Oak Common and Birmingham to run sometime between 2036 and 2039.
Ms Alexander told MPs she would “take away” Dr Huq’s point about the Elizabeth line, adding that she was “not entirely sure of its feasibility” but would come back with more detail.
