The latest of the stations to be upgraded ahead of the Elizabeth line opening has been completed, to the west of London at West Drayton.
The station has been given an expanded ticket hall sitting alongside its exiting northern entrance featuring a new glass and steel extension, alongside two new lifts enabling step-free access to the main platforms serving TfL Rail/Elizabeth line and GWR services.
Station extension – from the planning document
An additional lift at the station entrance connecting the low-level subway with the new concourse has also been brought into use. The station lifts to platforms 2-5 will be complemented by a new lift linking the southern entrance to Platform 1 later this year.
The majority of services operate from Platforms 2,3,4 and 5. Platform 1 is only used if the main platforms are unavailable.
The station has undergone a significant transformation in recent years following the completion of the main ticket hall carried out by TfL in 2019. Network Rail has since enhanced the station improvements with an extension to the existing northern ticket hall, vastly increasing space for customers as well as providing an additional entrance.
Northern entrance to the station (c) TfL
A glass frontage and a new ticket gateline have replaced the narrow cramped staircases and subway previously used to enter and leave the platforms.
Work around the station to improve the local environment and public realm is being carried out by the Hillingdon council and is expected to complete early next year.
This is the second station that has been at West Drayton, as the first, which opened in June 1838 was on the other side of the main road, to the western side. It moved to its current location in August 1884 when a branch line to Staines opened and they needed more space where the old station had been located for the railway tracks.
Works at Southall and Hayes & Harlington stations are also continuing and are due to complete later this year, all with expanded ticket halls, as well as lifts providing further stations with step-free access.
New footbridge (c) TfL
New footbridge (c) TfL
A station I failed to enjoy using between 1970 and 2007 when working at or visiting the Air Traffic Control Centre. They seem to have manged to make it light, airy and, possibly, a pleasure to use.
Caught me by surprise on Tuesday, I had no idea it was open. Steep steps though and hopefully the boring, grey walls won’t be continually covered in graffiti tags. it’s more utilitarian rather than sleek in my opinion. Was funny that all the passengers walked past the steps to previous exit and then walked back to steps, maybe temporary signage would be helpful? Still going to be a bottleneck along the bridge getting on and off the platform.
Yes did come as a surprise when it opened earlier this week. More steps on this footbridge because the railway is on an embankment at West Drayton that’s why access was provided by subway. Too costly to expand the subway and provide lifts I suspect. Staines branch mentioned but no mention of Uxbridge Vine Street branch which had opened nearly thirty years earlier. Both closed down in the nineteen sixties.
The Uxbridge branch didn’t affect the placement of the station – hence not being cited in the article as a reason for the station being moved.