From Ticket Hall to Toilet Roll: Morden Tube Station's New Facilities Take First Flush
Morden tube station's former ticket office has been transformed into two new toilets, marking the first step in a £15 million initiative to enhance public transport facilities across London. This move addresses a significant issue: the lack of accessible toilets can deter people from using public transport. In response, the Mayor pledged £3 million annually for five years to improve and expand these facilities.
The Morden project involves creating a gender-neutral toilet and a fully accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities, replacing the space once occupied by the ticket office. This station was prioritized due to its status as a terminus, though the opening was slightly delayed. The initiative aims to ensure that passengers are always within a 20-minute radius of a toilet without needing to change trains.
Other stations on the network have also seen improvements. Last year, accessible toilets opened at Clapton, Seven Sisters, and White Hart Lane London Overground stations. The next additions are planned for New Cross Gate and Acton Central. Work is underway at Amersham Underground, converting existing customer toilets into fully accessible facilities. Further enhancements are set for Colindale, Leyton, Northolt, West Ham tube stations, and Surrey Quays Overground station.
TfL is also upgrading existing toilets. Mid-life refurbishments, including new fixtures, fittings, flooring, and tiling, have been completed at High Barnet Underground and Willesden Junction London Overground stations. Similar work is ongoing at Penge West and Crystal Palace, with Stanmore, Watford, Bush Hill Park, and Enfield Town set to follow. Additionally, toilets at 37 locations across the TfL network have received LED lighting upgrades, enhancing energy efficiency and the overall user experience.
Emma Strain, TfL's Customer Director, emphasized the impact of accessible toilets on people's lives, stating that the availability of toilets can determine whether individuals use public transport. She highlighted the significance of this milestone in improving and expanding facilities across the network, aligning with their commitment to make the transport system fair, accessible, and inclusive.
Currently, there are toilets available at 155 locations on the TfL transport network, with an additional 40 toilets within stations not managed by TfL. For a comprehensive guide to public toilets in London, visit the dedicated map on the TfL website.
