This letter from Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, to Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of London Borough of Hillingdon Council, is posted here in support of our article about Ruislip station being shortlisted for step-free access by TfL.
29 September 2025
Dear Ian,
I am writing to provide you with an update on the work Transport for London (TfL) is doing to increase the number of step-free stations on the London Underground network, working towards my ambitious target of making 50 per cent of Tube stations step-free by 2030, to make London’s transport network more accessible and inclusive.
As you know, in April 2025, TfL confirmed a long list of 30 stations, including Hatton Cross, Northwood Hills, Ruislip, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip stations, where additional work was carried out to determine which stations would be selected for full feasibility studies later this year. While the initial selection and prioritisation of stations considered customer benefits, deliverability, network coverage and the local development and regeneration context, the feasibility studies will consider these factors for different options of providing step-free access at each station. This allows TfL to assess the practicalities and associated costs to identify the option that best meets the desired objectives while demonstrating value for money.
After careful consideration, I am pleased to confirm that Hatton Cross and Ruislip stations have been selected by TfL to proceed to feasibility as part of the next stage of TfL’s Step-Free Access programme, starting later in 2025, alongside 15 other stations. These stations have been chosen using an approach focused on:
- Benefits to customers, such as reducing journey times for those needing to use step-free access
- Factors that could impact the delivery of step-free access, such as the feasibility and number of required new lifts, sufficient space for work to be carried out, and the depth of each Tube station
- Addressing gaps in areas that have few step-free stations
- The potential to align with new development opportunities and to support regeneration priorities for local authorities.
Unfortunately, at this time, TfL’s prioritisation process did not identify Northwood Hills, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip stations as stations to proceed to a feasibility study during this financial year. This decision does not rule out future consideration. With over two-thirds of the Underground network still not step-free, and many stations complex or costly to adapt, TfL must take a phased and prioritised approach based on deliverability and available funding. TfL would be happy to talk you through this process in more detail if it would be helpful.
While TfL can fund the feasibility studies at the 17 stations selected, the subsequent development and delivery of schemes will be dependent on TfL’s future funding position. Deliverable schemes will be prioritised where significant third-party funding is available. As such, TfL would like to work with you to identify potential funding or development opportunities that could support the delivery of step-free access at Hatton Cross and Ruislip stations.
TfL will be in touch when feasibility work starts in the coming months, and we look forward to working closely with you to progress this project.
Thank you again for your support in delivering a more accessible and inclusive transport network for all Londoners.
Yours sincerely,
Sir Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London
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