Friendship, travel & the Elizabeth Line

It took almost a decade to fight for accessible transport on the Elizabeth Line. When the Crossrail designs were first drawn up, Hanwell, Manor Park, Maryland, Seven Kings, Iver, Langley and Taplow, Ealing, Newham and West of London respectively were planned with no lifts or step-free access at all. Transport For All ran a successful campaign that combined lobbying of MPs, bringing an Early Day Motion to Parliament, and direct action. This included rallies, protests, and press, with the result that, once all the works have been completed, all 41 stations along the Elizabeth Line will have some degree of step-free access which will come from level boarding or a manual boarding ramp.

“It is thanks to the efforts of the disabled campaigners a decade ago that the Elizabeth Line will have the degree of accessibility it does.” Caroline Stickland, CEO of Transport For All commented. “Transport For All’s work doesn’t stop with the launch of the line, however, and they will continue to strive for more accessible transport services.”

But just how has that accessibility translated?

We start our journey from the everfamiliar Liverpool Street Station.

Here, the huge and mostly uncluttered Station Hall is wide enough for wheelchairs aplenty providing the crowds are considerate. Gorgeous wide walkways, ramps and lifts available (though you need to know where to find them) and easy-access shops. All of this means that leaving the station presents a minimum of hassle. Today we’re on assignment. More aware than normal of the needs of disabled friends and colleagues we look up to see somewhat less accessible first-floor shops, then search for a Quiet Room, finding none. Of course, if you have problems, you can ask an attendant for help, providing you can find one. If I had an attack of chronic fatigue (which comes on without notice) the few seats would be full, and stewards would be busy, so I’d most likely end up resting on the floor.

We follow signs to the Elizabeth Line platform, passing through ticket gates in the normal ratio of sizes which give prams and wheelchair users reasonable (but not brilliant) access.

Once seated in our carriage we are told of delays of about five minutes. We decide to wait. We wait through announcements of delays for another five minutes, then another five, then ten. When the tannoy tells us the train is delayed even further we get off.

Sabine comments: “After work I walked to Liverpool Street Station and took the Elizabeth Line to Stratford. The Central line is one of the loudest. Those few stops between Liverpool Street and Stratford make my head burst. The Elizabeth Line is wonderfully quiet. When I’m well, the Central Line’s noise is almost painful. When I have a slight headache (even when it’s not ap-proaching a migraine) it is much worse. That one stop between Liverpool Street and Stratford makes a lovely difference.”

We get off Central Line at Stratford to an announcement of delays to the Elizabeth Line. We give up. Ana comments: “Yesterday I rode between Manor Park and Liverpool Street Stations. The first thing I noticed was the different carriage layouts. One carriage had the same layout as the overground, the next was like an underground carriage and the last had a National Rail layout, with seats facing each other. The significant differences I saw were the safety wall barriers between the doors, and the wheelchair accessible seats had more width than other train layouts. The result was that there is less space for a wheelchair or other mobility aid

to fit through the corridor openings which means evacuation would be a problem, as would getting to designated seats.

Also, whilst seating corridors were somewhat wider past the initial opening, a total of the same number of accessible seatings – 4 seats – was available as on every other train car. This both-ers me from an accessibility viewpoint. When TfL already knows that the over – and underground trains - lack an inclusive design, why stick to the three designs which are decidedly exclusive? Why not start from scratch when it comes to layout? And why further obstruct the corridor for those who already must push past the physical barrier as well as other humans?

While the wheelchair accessible seats were more noticeably designated through the cushion design, there is still a limited choice, and competition with prams, pregnant passengers and inconsiderate or oblivious passengers will make that harder. Considering the increasing focus on invisible disabilities since Covid, keeping the same number of disabled seating seems both old-fashioned and short sighted.”

I check with TFL and discover the Elizabeth Line does not run on Sundays.

I’ve seen a bus bearing Elizabeth Line colours pass Wanstead Station but can’t work out what benefit it gives – it is bound to be slower – so take the Central Line to Stratford instead. The

best you can say for Stratford Station is that it’s confusing. As I alight from my carriage there is no clear Elizabeth Line signage so I go downstairs to a corridor. There, clear, and beautifully designed Line signs take me a little way along the corridor in the direction of Westfield Shopping Centre to the Shenfield platform. Great intentions, old clichéd behaviour.

The line to Shenfield is just rebranded mainline stock now. Since it is likely to carry all the old niggles and problems, I just visit the platform to see what I can learn. Once on it (I climb the stairs and pass a sign apologising for an out-of-order lift) a Station Staffer is clearly present. I tell her I was writing about the Elizabeth Line and how they deal with disabled passengers.

Cheerful and helpful, she responded, “You just need to come and ask. One of us is always on the platform, or two or three of us depending on how busy the station is. We ask where you’re going, then call ahead to the station you are going to. We help with the ramp when you get in, and they will have the ramp ready when you get off. You can also book it on the website. Let me get you a card.”

I ask what other accessibility options are available and must persuade her not to go and find me the large print tube map which seems to be it. She is a lovely lady. Super-kind, proactive, considerate, and enthusiastic. During the conversation, though, her voice increases in volume, and she started speaking slower and more clearly, leaving me with that strange confusion as to whether I should be annoyed that she has jumped to conclusions about my disability and become unconsciously condescending or pleased that she’s trying at all.

There is inconsistent signage at Stratford. I discover the inconsistency of Stratford Station signage again when I accidentally find the westbound Elizabeth Line while waiting for a Central Line connection (that same Central Line platform from which I had earlier disembarked). Once in the new-style train I find it lovely. There is clear signage in both train and on platforms, and clearly spoken announcements with the same information. Carriage numbers are given for positioning, and I can actually feel the air conditioning. That is particularly reassuring as I am the only person wearing a mask for all my Elizabeth Line trips. I like the extra-safe door walls and the periodic graphical representations of where we are on our journey.

At Liverpool Street Station the route from where you disembark, to the platform from which you re-embark to continue the route to Paddington, is clearly marked. It is a bit of a trek though. I walk fast when well and timed it at 6 minutes, and there is little seating on the way. Theoretically this is a temporary state, while the rest of the Elizabeth Line is constructed. It took over 13 years to build and was completed four years later than scheduled so I won’t be holding my breath. I enjoy the trip to the next stop – Farringdon – where I stop for lunch. So far, the Elizabeth Line is much better than the rest of the tube and fantastic for step free access. It could be improved – especially the signage which can be quite confusing - but what couldn’t! It is very much better for those needing mobility aids. Whether to celebrate this achievement, campaign for more, ignore it or just stay angry is everyone’s choice. f course, accessibility doesn’t stop in the train. You know it. I know it, and the designers know it too, and as we continue to campaign for more accessible travel, we need to acknowledge that accessibility doesn’t stop there. Next stop, please.

AUTHOR: Carole Edrich, photographer, journalist and board member for Unlimited FACEBOOK: