Transport for London to improve access to toilet on London’s transport network
Transport for London (TfL) has announced its ambitious programme to increase and improve toilet provision on London’s transport network, delivering new accessible toilets across the network, and making improvements to many existing facilities.
The programme will take place in support of TfL’s Equity in Motion plan to make London’s transport network more accessible, fair and inclusive.
Earlier this year, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the biggest dedicated investment in toilet provision that London’s transport network has seen, totalling £3million per year over five years. This will be invested in improving and increasing the number of accessible toilets on the network.
TfL says it is committed to making toilets more accessible for everyone and closing the gap in existing toilet provision so that Tube, Overground and Elizabeth line customers are always within 20 minutes of a toilet without having to change train.
Following engagement with customers, campaigners and staff, a new programme has been developed to ensure new toilets benefit customers who need them most. Stations were then chosen according to a number of factors, including whether the location is a terminus station, operates night services, has step-free access, high passenger footfall, proximity to other toilets on the network, and onward connections.
TfL is committed to creating new facilities and enhancing existing facilities, including reopening closed facilities, and improving the cleaning of facilities.
Following the study, TfL has shortlisted a number of locations for new toilet provision in the first round of works including Camden Road Overground station, Clapton Overground station, and New Cross Gate London Overground station.
Additionally, South Tottenham London Overground station, White Hart Lane Overground station, Morden Underground station, and Hammersmith Underground station.
TfL and the Mayor recognise that the provision of toilets is critical to many customers, sometimes determining whether a customer can travel by public transport at all.
Sadiq Khan said: “Toilet provision is critical for many Londoners and visitors, and can even determine whether somebody travels on public transport at all. That’s why I’m planning to make the biggest ever investment to increase toilet provision across TfL services and boost accessibility.
“I’m pleased that the first round of my funding will enable toilet provision in new stations as well as upgrading current facilities – helping us to build a better, fairer London for everyone.”
TfL says it is also looking to convert a further four existing non-accessible toilets to accessible facilities within this first phase of the project at Amersham, Green Park and Sudbury Hill Underground stations and Seven Sisters Overground station, improving availability at other busy toilets that are currently misused or vandalised.
TfL has also made improvements to more than one-third of London Underground stations with toilet provision in recent years, including repairing faults and re-painting areas.
Construction work to deliver new and accessible toilets at these stations is expected to start at several locations within the next year, following detailed assessments to determine viability. TfL will continue detailed assessments to determine the viability of work at each site.
Andy Lord, London Transport Commissioner, said: “Access to toilets is important for all customers when using public transport, but is a vital enabler for some, especially older customers, people with disabilities and those with young children.
“We have developed a plan for a holistic multi-year programme to improve toilet facilities across the TfL network. This includes new facilities at stations currently without toilets, more accessible toilets, enhancing existing facilities and increasing the availability and accessibility of toilets. Our programme delivery team is now hard at work to turn this plan into improvements for our customers across the network.”
John McGeachy Campaigns Manager at Age UK London, said: “One on five people do not leave home as much as they would like to, because of consideration around a lack of public toilets – it’s called the ‘loo leash’. When it comes to the transport network, that can mean some people deciding not to make a particular journey.
“Older people, like people of all ages, travel for work, for volunteering, to care for others, to shop, to volunteer, for health appointments, for social activities, to visit friends and much more – it can never be the case that a lack of loos becomes a barrier to any of those journeys.
“That’s why the launch of TfL’s programme and plan today is so welcome. We’re grateful to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and staff across TfL for making the plan happen.
“The tireless work from campaigners for better provision has also been crucial. Public toilets are not something we talk about too often but the reality is that better provision can transform lives. If the plan is delivered in full it will make London much more welcoming for people of all ages.”
There are currently toilets available at 145 TfL sites with an additional 40 toilets within stations on the network that are not managed by TfL. TfL has created a handy Toilet Tube Map, which shows all the toilet facilities across the TfL network, including baby changing facilities and those which are wheelchair accessible
Staff are on hand in stations to advise customers of the nearest public and accessible toilet where toilets are not available to customers at the station, and to grant access to accessible toilets that may require a RADAR key. Disabled people can request a universal key called a RADAR key from Disability Rights UK which they can keep with them when they travel.
A new Changing Places toilet recently opened at one of Northern’s Greater Manchester stations.
