Disability campaigners hail West Hampstead station lift announcement
West Hampstead Overground station - Credit: Archant
Disability campaigners have hailed a £100million investment that will mean West Hampstead joins 41 other train stations receiving improved access for disabled passengers.
The funding, part of the government’s Access for All programme, will see the London Overground station receive a new lift to platform level.
It will form part of a wider redevelopment of the entire station which starts next year.
John Saynor, from the West Hampstead Amenity and Transport group, said: “This is very good news.
“We’ve been asking for a lift for a while now and it’s featured on our agenda more and more over the past three years.
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“Along with the arrival of the new station, it’s essential to easing congestion at what is an incredibly busy station.”
Transport for All, an organisation representing London’s elderly and disabled transport users, also welcomed the announcement but remained concerned over cuts elsewhere for disabled users.
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A spokesman said: “Less than a fifth of UK stations are accessible.
“We urge the government and rail companies to increase funding for rail access improvements, so that disabled and older people are able to get out and about with the same freedom and independence as everyone else.”
Rail minister Baroness Kramer said: “These improvements will make a real difference to the lives of disabled passengers and those with limited mobility, allowing them to get to work and pursue leisure activities more easily.”
All work is due to be completed by the end of 2019.
