Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers who use Colindale Tube station that vital work to upgrade the station, including a larger ticket hall and installation of a lift to give the station step-free access for the first time, means that it will have to close from Friday 7 June until December 2024.
Work has already started in the vicinity of the station to prepare for the major upgrade, which is funded by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and significant contributions also being made by Barnet Council, local developers and TfL.
During the temporary closure of the station, customers are advised to take local bus routes to nearby Northern line stations at Burnt Oak or Hendon Central, or to Kingsbury for the Jubilee line. Nearby Thameslink rail services at Mill Hill Broadway or Hendon stations are also accessible using the local bus network. TfL is currently working with bus operators to enhance key local routes and will share detailed travel advice on the TfL website well in advance of the closure starting.
In its current configuration, Colindale Tube station is expected to reach passenger capacity by 2026. As part of the upgrade, the 1960s-built entrance will be replaced with a new, landmark station building which includes a spacious ticket hall and a lift giving step-free access from street to platform for the first time (with existing platform humps giving level access onto trains).
In addition to the temporary closure of Colindale Tube station, there will also be a series of associated planned track closures of the Northern line between Golders Green and Edgware between April and July this year to facilitate the upgrade works. These planned closures are necessary due to the proximity to the track of some of the construction work to upgrade Colindale station – including piling, crane operation and demolition work – meaning it cannot be safely carried out when trains are running. Temporary bus services will run between Golders Green and Edgware stations, and also to Canons Park station for Jubilee line services, during these planned track closures. Weekday and weekend southbound services on the London Underground from Golders Green will not be affected.
Travel advice for customers affected by these closures is available at TfL travel advice – Colindale with more detailed information added as it becomes available.
During the track closures, TfL will take the opportunity to carry out additional track maintenance and engineering works which will help improve overall services along this section of the Northern line, offering a more reliable and comfortable service for customers.
Colindale is one of London’s most deprived areas and the redevelopment of the Tube station is central to enabling the building of 11,400 quality new homes for local people. Since 2011, Colindale’s population has grown by 70 per cent, making the area around the station the second-fastest growing ward in London after the Stratford Olympic Park in Newham. The upgraded Tube station will increase capacity, improve accessibility and provide a more comfortable and welcoming environment for TfL’s customers.
David Rowe, TfL’s Director of Investment Delivery Planning, said: “The major upgrade of Colindale station is set to transform the journeys of many thousands of our customers, making the station more accessible and welcoming, and ensuring it’s fit to serve this rapidly growing community for many decades to come. I appreciate that this upgrade will cause some disruption for our customers but we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that, through our detailed travel advice, they can plan ahead and are able to complete their journeys using the public transport network.”
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “Colindale is one of the fastest growing neighbourhoods in London, with a population that has expanded by 70 per cent over the last 10 years. The redevelopment of the Tube station is desperately needed as it reaches capacity by 2026 and, left undone, will stifle our plans to further regenerate the area.
“However, it does mean that TfL will need to close the station while the works take place. Although we appreciate this is the only viable option, we recognise the inconvenience this will cause to those of us who depend on it. Barnet Council will work with TfL to ensure station users will be provided with alternative travel routes and as much advance notice of closures as possible and we look forward to seeing the new, larger, fully accessible station next year.”
Delivering step-free access at Colindale station will continue TfL’s work to make the capital’s transport network more accessible. Since 2016, TfL has worked to reduce additional journey times for those who need accessible routes by 40 per cent, well on the way to reaching the Mayor of London’s accessibility stretch target of 50 per cent by 2030 (from 2041).
TfL will launch a widescale communications campaign ahead of the temporary closure of Colindale station and the associated track closures which will include targeted customer emails, posters and PA announcements at stations. TfL’s Journey Planner and TfL Go will also be updated with the latest travel information. TfL is encouraging customers to use these real-time travel tools to plan ahead during these essential closures.
Image credit: TfL
