London TravelWatch has criticised the decision to cut back on work being undertaken to upgrade the tube and make it accessible.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch said: “Cancellations of future planned step-free projects had already been announced. However, we were not told that the vital work in the current programme was to be stopped with immediate effect.”

The cessation of the work will affect Amersham, Greenford, Osterley, West Kensington, Ladbroke Grove and Newbury Park tube stations.

Sharon Grant continued: “Not only does this decision mean that passengers who face barriers to travel - including those with disabilities, heavy luggage or pushchairs - will be less able to use these stations, it also means that money already spent on the work has been utterly wasted.

“It is deeply disappointing that as London’s transport watchdog, we were not consulted at any stage about this decision. Passengers have a right to know about the bad news as well as the good.”

For media enquiries, please contact Jo deBank in the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or 07734 055494.

The voice of London's transport users
29 October 2009