London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged £200m to creating step-free access the Tube over the next five years.
The mayor confirmed the move would take the number of accessible stations above 100 for the first time, with about 30 stations getting new lifts.
The first two stations – Harrow on the Hill on the Metropolitan line and Newbury Park on the Central line – have been confirmed, with building work brought forward to 2017.
This is in addition to larger stations such as Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Victoria becoming step-free the same year.
The funding, part of Transport for London’s business plan due to be published later this week, means more than 40% of the Underground network will be step-free by 2021, up from the current 27%.
Campaigners welcomed the move, with disabilities groups saying public transport was “a lifeline” and parents’ groups suggesting it would help make London the best city in the world for families.
But questions remained over where the money would come from as TfL plans to make savings of £3.5bn over the next five years.
Meanwhile, Khan’s bid to take over London’s suburban railways has been scuppered by transport secretary Chris Grayling. The minister said he remained unconvinced that the mayor’s proposal to take over Southeastern services from 2018 would provide any real improvement for passengers.
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