Minister for Local Transport Simon Lightwood MP visited Leyton yesterday to mark the start of construction work to make Leyton Underground station step free. Waltham Forest Labour has long campaigned for this, for the benefit of residents and all who use this important interchange in the south of the borough. Construction work to make Leyton tube step-free will be underway on the 17th February. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2027.
Cllr Clyde Loakes MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality at Waltham Forest Council, said:
“It’s great to see the benefits of housing growth being invested in critical local infrastructure such as Leyton Tube station, especially as we have been calling and lobbying for this upgrade for some 20 years. Waltham Forest has long championed active and sustainable travel for over a decade now. Our work is already helping to make residents healthier and the air we breathe cleaner, as we continue to make it easier and more convenient to leave the car at home.
“The council has made a long-standing commitment to the residents of Leyton and the south of the borough to improve public transport links in the area. There are currently no stations in the south of the borough that have step-free access, which puts disabled people, parents with buggies, and older residents at a huge disadvantage. That’s why the council has contributed £9m as it works with TfL, GLA and the Department for Transport to upgrade Leyton station, making it accessible for all customers alongside improved facilities.
“This is great news for Waltham Forest and a vote of confidence in our track record of success in delivering changes that deliver real benefits for everyone who lives, works,or studies here., This announcement is perfectly timed as we prepare to welcome Manchester City fans to the home of the Mighty O’s – the Gaughan Group Stadium on Brisbane Road – for the upcoming FA Cup fixture.”
The station will remain open during the works, except for a small number of weekend closures around halfway through the construction programme. These closures will be fully communicated with both stakeholders and customers ahead of time to ensure Londoners can plan journeys around the work by both TfL and Waltham Forest Council.
Changes include:
- A new, larger, high-quality ticket hall building including additional ticket gates to reduce congestion and meet expected future demand
- 2 new lifts, 2 new staircases and an overbridge to make the station step-free from street to platform for the first time
- An enhanced station environment, leading to a smoother travel experience for customers, and an improved gateway to Leyton town centre