Barnet (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Mill Hill councillors thanked Barnet residents after Network Rail confirmed long-awaited step-free access at Mill Hill Broadway Station.
Conservative councillors Val Duschinsky and Elliot Simberg received an email from the organization in charge of national rail infrastructure telling them that proposals to install lifts at National Rail station had finally been approved.
It is now anticipated that lifts will be functional in the early summer of 2026, allowing all passengers to pierce platforms 1, 2, and 3 at the station.
As part of the Department of Transport’s Access for All action, plans for step-free access at the station were announced in 2019.
Still, five years later, in April 2024, Matthew Offord, the Hendon MP at the time, transferred a written inquiry to the government, questioning why construction had n’t yet begun.
In response, transport minister Huw Merriman said:
“There are many technical issues to overcome at this station, given it is located on the Midland Main Line and adjacent to the M1 motorway, all of which are currently under consideration.”
Now Cllr Duschinky and Cllr Simberg are thanking all involved for enabling the plans to move forward.
In a statement published on the Barnet Conservatives website today they say:
“We know how important this upgrade is for residents with mobility challenges, parents with prams, and all those who have found the current station layout a barrier to travel and concern to safety.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the many residents who have campaigned passionately for step-free access over the years. Your voices have made a real difference and have helped bring about this positive change for our community.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Network Rail for listening to our concerns, engaging with the community, and ultimately securing the necessary funding for this vital project. It is wonderful to see local advocacy and partnership with national organisations delivering results that will benefit everyone in Mill Hill Broadway and beyond.”
How will construction affect train services and platform access?
Construction work for installing step-free access at Mill Hill Broadway Station will probably involve temporary restrictions on platform access and occasional train service dislocations during crucial phases.
Grounded on analogous Network Rail systems, utmost construction work occurs during day hours on weekdays and is planned to minimize impact on train services. Still, some late or weekend work may be necessary when trains are n’t running to safely carry out conditioning similar to piling, steelwork installation, or lift fitting.
Temporary platform access restrictions or diversions within the station may be enforced at times to grease safe construction zones, with advance notice handed to passengers. There may also be occasional short- term line or station closures, during which rail relief machine services will operate to maintain connectivity.