The main stage of work to make Finsbury Park station fully accessible is now underway, after Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, joined Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway and Islington Borough Council for a ground-breaking event today (Monday 13 December).
The latest phase of the project will see the installation of two new lifts to serve platforms 3/4 and 7/8, providing step-free access for passengers across the entire station.
The scheme is being carried out in partnership with Govia Thameslink Railway and Transport for London. Funding for the project was made available through the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.
Work began in July and engineers have been setting up the site, installing equipment to safely lift materials from Stroud Green Road to the platform level and putting temporary hoardings in place to keep disruption to a minimum.
Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, said: “I’m delighted that the final phase of making Finsbury Park a fully accessible station is now underway. Congratulations to Network Rail and the contractors involved.
“It seems like only yesterday that I was responding to community calls to support a fully accessible station. It’s finally happened. Thank you.”
Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “We are committed to improving accessibility for passengers and these major improvements at Finsbury Park station will make sure people can travel in confidence.
“Today marks a key milestone in this project which will bring step-free access across the entire station – making it easier for passengers to commute into central London or connect to the East Coast Main Line.”
Jenny Saunders, Great Northern and Thameslink Customer Services Director, said: “Finsbury Park is one of our busiest stations where customers frequently change trains or switch on to the Tube. The stairs at Finsbury are a real barrier to many of our disabled customers, as well as to mums and dads with pushchairs, passengers with luggage and many older people. Today’s ground-breaking ceremony is such good news – we can’t wait for these lifts to open.”
Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’re committed to creating a more equal Islington, where it is easier for everyone to travel safely and easily.
“We are pleased that these major improvement works at Finsbury Park will bring step-free access to the station, making it easier for local people, especially disabled people, to travel with confidence.”
Once the lifts are installed, further improvements for passengers will take place including updating the signs in the station, laying tactile paving, upgrading the lighting and installing additional CCTV cameras.
The ticket gate line is also being moved to the Station Place entrance, to make it easier for people to move around the station.
The work will not impact on train services and is expected to be completed in November 2022.
Photo credit: Network Rail
