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Friday 7 Feb 2025

Barnes station takes railway accessibility forward in south west London

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

As the railway celebrates its 200^th birthday, Barnes station in south west London has officially opened accessibility upgrades, setting the station up for the next 200 years.

The transformational investment makes travel much more accessible for South Western Railway (SWR) customers, particularly those with limited mobility or those travelling with prams and luggage.

The new lifts, staircases and footbridge serve each of the outside platforms, as well as the central island platform, meaning the station has step-free routes to and from each platform for the first time.

Other upgrades include refreshing the station lighting and installing CCTV, helping customers feel safer and more comfortable while travelling, particularly at night.

The £8.3m programme of work was funded by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme, which aims to improve accessibility across the railway network.

At an event on 7 February 2025, representatives from Network Rail, South Western Railway, Richmond Council and local schools gathered to formally open the new lifts and bridge across the platforms.

In addition, Hounslow and Richmond Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has unveiled a new mural on the north side of the station, designed by artists Christopher Anthony and Andrew Werda of Nightshift Studios.

The colourful display celebrates local wildlife and landmarks, including the nearby WWT London Wetland Centre, a thriving haven for nature in the capital, and Olympic Studios, where artists including The Beatles, Queen and David Bowie have recorded.

The mural was created in partnership with local schools and community groups, with funding from Richmond Council, Network Rail and SWR. The art restores a wall previously vandalised by graffiti, significantly enhancing the look and feel of the station.

Across Network Rail’s Wessex route – which serves towns and communities in and around London, and down to the South West of England – Motspur Park, Walton-on-Thames and Isleworth stations have all benefited from accessibility upgrades in the past 12 months, with Stoneleigh and Teddington set to follow in 2025.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “Barnes is a vital junction station, where the lines from Hounslow and Richmond converge towards London and we’re delighted that all four platforms are now fully accessible.

“We welcome the continued investment from the DfT to support us in making the railway easier to use and increase the number of accessible stations we have across our Southern region.

“The support Richmond Council have given us has been vital to completing these accessibility improvements to Barnes station.

“We know that works of this nature cause inconvenience to passengers and local residents and we thank them for their patience and understanding. Our hope is that they can enjoy the benefits of these improvements."

Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway, commented: “This transformational investment in Barnes station is the latest to make our railway more accessible for customers, particularly those with limited mobility or those with prams or luggage.

“The improvements open up new opportunities for residents and those visiting the area, and make it significantly easier for many people to choose the sustainable way to travel.

“It’s also wonderful to see local attractions celebrated in Hounslow and Richmond CRP’s colourful new mural, particularly the plants and animals found in this especially green corner of the capital.

“We’re grateful to our partners at Network Rail and Richmond Council for working with us to deliver this important project.”

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Services Committee at Richmond Council, said: “We are thrilled to see the positive impact the new lifts and footbridge will have on our community.

These accessibility upgrades, funded by the DfT's Access for All scheme, have provided improved routes from the Barnes station entrance to the platforms. This enhancement boosts our community’s safety, ensuring that public transport is accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility.”

Sarah Olney, Member of Parliament for Richmond Park, said: “I am pleased that upgrades to Barnes station have been made to improve accessibility. The new footbridge and lifts are a great improvement and will enable more residents to access the station. The increase in lighting and security cameras will also help passengers feel safer and are very welcome.”