Accessibility of transport in London

Further improvements followed, with the introduction of low-floor buses in 1993, the passing of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995 and the opening of the Jubilee Line Extension in 1999 – which provided step-free access at 11 new Underground stations.

[a] As of the 2021 census, 1.2 million Londoners have a disability[1] – a "physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities".

Until 1959, London Transport required blind passengers or disabled people "wishing to travel independently" to sign an indemnity accepting financial liability from any accident.

[36] GLAD considered that the ban on wheelchairs on the Underground should be reconsidered, and criticised the removal of bus conductors as it has "eliminated much of the personal assistance available" to disabled people.

[37] LRT responded by welcoming the evidence the GLAD report provided, while pointing out the high cost of delivering accessibility improvements in light of limited funds.

[56] From 1 October 1993, wheelchair access on the deep level Tube lines was permitted for the first time, following changes to London Underground's conditions of carriage.

[78] A spokesperson for the Underground admitted that "not enough attention was paid to the needs of the disabled" during the design of the extension, and promised efforts to improve colour contrast in stations.

[94][95][96] In March 2003, Peter Hendy, then managing director of Surface Transport for TfL noted that the implementation of a low floor, accessible bus fleet was a higher priority than keeping the historic Routemaster buses.

[97] Despite criticism from the media and the public,[98][99] remaining Routemaster services were consequently replaced from August 2003 onwards by low-floor double decker or articulated "bendy" buses.

[140] Outside of a few major projects (such as Wembley Park), station refurbishments delivered as part of the PPP included minor accessibility improvements such as fixing stairs, visual contrast and the installation of tactile paving.

[149] The target of 33 per cent of step-free tube stations by 2013 was dropped, with the TfL Business Plan calling it an "unfunded commitment made by the previous administration".

[158][159] Explaining the cancellation of step-free access at the station, TfL cited high installation costs of £100 million due to the poor ground conditions and underground utilities which would have to be diverted.

[160] Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council Stephen Greenhalgh criticised TfL, stating that "it is inconceivable in the 21st century that you would revamp a station without putting in step-free access".

[167] The project included ten new lifts allowing step-free interchange between six Underground lines, access to street level as well as to Kings Cross and St Pancras railway stations.

[179] In 2012, the first phase of the Thameslink Programme (improvements to a north–south rail link across central London) were completed, with step-free access provided at Farringdon and Blackfriars tube stations.

[200] In November 2014, HM Government announced that they would provide £14 million in funding for the remaining three Crossrail stations (Langley, Taplow, Iver) to be made accessible.

[202][201] In 2014, campaign groups and trade unions expressed concerns regarding planned closure of Tube ticket offices, voicing fears that it would make transport for disabled people more difficult.

[206] Despite strikes from trade unions,[208] ticket office closures began in 2015 with TfL reiterating that all stations would remain staffed and staff would be more visible and available to assist passengers.

It set a goal that the UK's transport system will offer "equal access for disabled people" by 2030, with "assistance if physical infrastructure remains a barrier".

[233] In August 2018, chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon criticised Crossrail for building the central stations at a non-standard platform height of 1,100 mm (43.3 in).

[234] Following delays and cost overruns of the Crossrail project, TfL announced that the planned upgrade and expansion of Camden Town tube station (including the provision of step-free access) had been cancelled.

[237][238] In January 2019, the High Court of Justice found that London Underground discriminated against a disability campaigner, by failing to provide enough information on which lifts were working.

[241] In early 2020, works at Twickenham railway station to rebuild the entrance and provide step-free access was completed, after the initial deadline of the 2015 Rugby World Cup was missed.

[247] In 2020, following a collapse in income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TfL paused design work on future step-free access at Northolt, Burnt Oak and Hanger Lane stations.

[256] Campaigners praised the effort that had gone into the design of the line, noting the "copious number of lifts" – however, the lack of level boarding at the outer stations was criticised.

[274] In recent decades, major efforts have taken place to improve accessibility across the Underground, with the Jubilee line extension having lifts from opening in 1999, and key interchange stations such as King's Cross St Pancras, Victoria and Green Park becoming step-free.

These stations are Alperton, Arnos Grove, Burnt Oak, Eastcote, Finchley Road, North Acton, Rayners Lane, West Hampstead and White City.

[263][335] In 2024, TfL announced that step-free feasibility work had begun on a further seven stations – Colliers Wood, Croxley, East Finchley, Neasden, Northwood, Tooting Broadway and Turnham Green.

[67] Following withdrawal of older, high-floor vehicles such as the AEC Routemaster, the bus fleet became fully accessible at the end of 2005, 10 years ahead of the national requirement.

[44][45] Modern taxis such as TX1 or the electric LEVC TX have a range of accessibility features including a boarding ramp, oversized entry doors, an audio induction loop and high contrast grab handles.