Network Rail is poised to start work on a major scheme to improve accessibility for passengers at Finsbury Park railway station – a key location on the network and a strategic interchange for services across London.
Work will begin on the scheme, which is being carried out in partnership with Transport for London and Govia Thameslink Railway, on Saturday 31 July.
It will see the installation of two new lifts to serve platforms 3/4 and 7/8, which will mean that, when complete, the entire station will have step-free access.
Alongside the lift installation, engineers will carry out a series of other passenger improvements, including:
- Updating the signs making it easier for people using the station
- Laying tactile paving along the platforms and improving the floor surfacing
- Upgrading the platform lighting
- Additional CCTV cameras
- Moving the gate line from Platform 3/4 to the entrance in Station Place, making it easier for people to move through the station
The work will not impact on train services and the impact on passengers using the station and people who live nearby will be kept to a minimum.
Funding for the project has been made available through the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.
Paul Rutter, Route Director for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “This latest project underlines our commitment to provide easy access for all passengers and to continue to ensure stations remain places where people feel safe and comfortable.
“Since receiving the Access for All funding, we’ve worked closely with local stakeholders and accessibility groups to find the best option for passengers, whilst at the same time designing the scheme to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “It is brilliant to see work beginning on these vital improvements, funded by our Access for All programme.
“Our ambition is that the entire transport network is accessible to every passenger by 2030, and these works will help build a more modern, inclusive system.”
Tom Moran, Managing Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “On behalf of our passengers, we welcome this major investment to make Finsbury Park station completely step free between all platforms and the street.
“We’re committed to making our services accessible for everyone, and this scheme will improve journeys for many thousands of our customers, particularly people for whom the lack of lifts made some platforms difficult to use. Network Rail have worked closely with us to minimise disruption during the work.”
For teams to safely set up the worksite, Stroud Green Road which runs next to the station, will be closed over one weekend from 06:00 on Saturday 31 July until 17:00 on Sunday 1 August. A signposted diversion will be in place for drivers.
Throughout the project, a section of the footpath and cycle path on one side of Stroud Green Road, which runs under the bridge at the station, will remain closed.
During this time, cyclists will need to dismount and cross to the other side of the road for the length of the bridge, were they will then be able to continue using the cycle lane on the other side.
