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Friday 23 May 2025

Teddington becomes latest station in south west London to receive accessibility improvements

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

Teddington has become the latest station on Network Rail’s Wessex route to become step free, following the completion of a £5.4m investment to improve accessibility.

New lifts, installed either side of the existing footbridge, have been installed to allow full access the Victoria Road and Station Road entrances. These improvements will allow passengers connecting between the Shepperton branch and the line heading to Twickenham and Richmond to make a step free interchange.

Network Rail has been working closely with South Western Railway (SWR) and the London Borough of Richmond to deliver the project.

Earlier today, these accessibility upgrades were officially opened at a ribbon cutting event in which representatives from Network Rail and SWR were joined by  Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham and other guests, to formally mark the completion of the project.

Across Network Rail’s Wessex route – which serves the towns and communities in part or all of the counties of Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire – Teddington station follows Stoneleigh, Farnborough North, Motspur Park, Walton-on-Thames and Isleworth stations which have all benefited from similar accessibility upgrades in the past 12 months.

Teddington station opened on 1 July 1863 and the station buildings were given Grade II listed status in 2012. The station is on the Kingston Loop and between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, it saw over 1.6million people enter or exit the station with over 75,000 changing trains.

The improvements have been funded by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme, which is used to create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms. This generally includes providing lifts or ramps, as well as associated works and refurbishment along the route.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: "The new entrance at Teddington station is really helpful for everyone. It makes it easier for people to get around and connect to other places.

“I’d like to thank Richmond Council for helping us with these upgrades at Teddington station as well as our partners South Western Railway whom we work closely with every day for the benefit of our passengers.

"We’re grateful to the Department for Transport for funding these important upgrades as we strive to ensure the railway is accessible to everyone.

“In the last year, we’ve completed similar upgrades at Teddington, Stoneleigh, Isleworth, Walton-on-Thames, Barnes, and Motspur Park which I know will make a real difference to passengers with mobility issues or simply people with luggage or push chairs.”

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s Customer and Commercial Director, said: "We’re leading the way with accessibility improvements and it’s wonderful to see Teddington benefit from the Access for All scheme, providing step-free access for the very first time. The new footbridge and lifts follow our successes at Stoneleigh and Motspur Park, underlining our commitment to our customers and the communities we serve."

Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham, said: “Making our railway stations accessible for all is so important for the people in our community, and especially for the elderly, the disabled and families with young children. Teddington residents have been eagerly awaiting the lifts at Teddington, and I’m grateful to Network Rail, SWR and Richmond Council for making this happen.”

Alasdair MacDonald, Regional Director at Balfour Beatty, said: "We’re proud to have played a key role in delivering the new step-free access at Teddington station. Once open, these improvements will help create a more inclusive and accessible railway, making it easier for all passengers to travel with confidence. This project is a great example of collaboration across the rail industry and with local stakeholders to deliver lasting benefits for the community."

Cllr Penelope Frost, Mayor of the London Borough of Richmond, said: "The London Borough of Richmond has got a lot of older residents and people with mobility difficulties including families with children and a whole range of difficulties. Having that kind of accessibility to get in and out of the station so it's a great thing for people's lives so it's a great thing for Teddington."