TfL’s £15M Plan: New Accessible Toilets Across London’s Network
Transport for London (TfL) is embarking on a significant £15 million investment, part of its ‘Equity in Motion’ plan announced in 2024, to dramatically increase and improve toilet facilities across its rail network. This ambitious initiative aims to make the TfL system more fair, accessible, and inclusive for all customers, directly addressing the previous lack of public conveniences, which a 2023 report dubbed a “loo desert” in many areas.
A key milestone has been the installation of new accessible and gender-neutral toilets, complete with baby change facilities, at Morden station on the Northern line. This station previously had no public toilets and was at one end of the 12-stop stretch between Elephant and Castle and Morden, identified as the longest without a toilet. Other recent additions include accessible toilets at Clapton, Seven Sisters, and White Hart Lane Overground stations.
Further expansion is planned, with new accessible toilets scheduled for New Cross Gate and Acton Central Overground stations. Additional facilities will be integrated into wider station enhancement works at Colindale, Leyton, Northolt, and West Ham Underground stations, as well as Surrey Quays London Overground. Extensive refurbishment projects are also underway or planned to convert existing toilets into fully accessible facilities at Amersham Tube station, Penge West, Crystal Palace London Overground, Stanmore, Watford, Bush Hill Park, and Enfield Town stations.
Emma Strain, TfL’s Customer Director, highlighted the profound benefit, stating that toilet access can be “the difference between going out on the network or not,” preventing “disruptive and devastating impact on their lives.” This commitment underscores TfL’s dedication to creating a truly accessible network, though users should note that TfL’s online toilet map may be subject to updates given the rapid pace of these improvements.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/transport/tfl-toilets-tube-stations)
