Pidgeon censures Crossrail for non-standard platforms
LONDON Assembly Transport Committee leader Caroline Pidgeon says non-standard height platforms on the central section of the new Elizabeth Line in London will make journeys “unnecessarily complicated and burdensome” for those with disabilities.
Platforms in the central section of London’s new east-west line (Crossrail) have been built to a height of 1,100mm in order to offer step-free access to board the Bombardier-built Class 345 EMUs.
However, the national standard for platform heights is set at 915mm and that height is widely accepted among rail safety bosses as being the safest platform height in Europe, with all new-build platforms required to be built at a height of 915mm.
The issue is further complicated because current National Rail stations have legacy platforms in place with varying heights. In order to board the trains at the western section of the line passengers will face an average 250mm (9.8inch) step up, while those joining at the eastern section face an average 100mm (3.9inch) step up. The average platform height on the western section is 850mm, while platforms on the eastern section are 1,000mm above the rail line.
Pidgeon told RAIL: “Crossrail will deliver wonderful new trains, 200 metres long, the same length as two football pitches. And thanks to extensive campaigning every station that runs through London will have step-free access. It is, however, a huge disappointment that there will be no consistency in platform heights along the whole of the route, making journeys for people with disabilities unnecessarily complicated and burdensome.”
A Department for Transport spokesman told RAIL that Crossrail did not receive a derogation to build the platforms at a different height to the national standard, but confirmed that the Secretary of State of Transport issued a dispensation under Regulation 46 of the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 in order to build the platforms higher. This meant neither the Office of Rail and Road nor Transport for London needed to be consulted about the change.
The DfT spokesman added: “The new Crossrail platforms have been built to enable level boarding to the new trains. This means that all stations in the central tunnel section will be fully accessible from street to train.”
At present, passengers requiring assistance at stations need to prebook at least 24 hours in advance, but with the planned frequency
of services along the line, the Elizabeth Line will operate on a turn-up-and-go basis. However, it is unclear how those needing to board trains ‘out of hours’ along the eastern and western sections will be accommodated at times when stations are unstaffed.
“On National Rail the standard height for platforms is 915mm so there’s a step up into the Class 345 - as planned. For step-free access this is dealt with by ramps and staffing to provide turn-upand-go,” Alex Williams, Director of City Planning at Transport for London, told RAIL.
He added: “On the central sections of the Elizabeth Line, train floor heights are 1,120-1,135mm above rail level when the train is empty. When it’s loaded this then matches the 1,100mm platforms on the central section and at Heathrow, so there is level boarding in the central section.”
Williams did not respond when RAIL asked if he could confirm that station staff would be available to assist passengers with mobility issues from the first train of the day through to the last train at night at affected stations.