Station improvements to make travelling by train easier on one of London’s main Olympic rail routes has started.
Network Rail is to carry out work at Wembley Central station to make it more accessible, providing a step-free route between the station entrance and platforms for the first time.
The improvements will benefit Southern passengers travelling to watch football at Wembley Stadium, and badminton and gymnastics at Wembley Arena.
The £2.5m improvement scheme, which has already started, also includes the installation of two new lifts, a stair lift, and the refurbishment of the toilets to make them fully accessible. For the first time, there will be step free access to all platforms.
Network Rail will also be carrying out platform extensions to provide the capacity for longer eight-car trains at two platforms.
This means the station will be able to better accommodate additional numbers of passengers during the Olympics and other future major events.
The project has been funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme, which aims to make travelling by train easier for everyone, especially those with reduced mobility, parents with young children or people with heavy luggage.
There will be no disruption to Southern passengers as a result of the construction work.
Work is expected to be completed in summer 2012 before the start of the Olympic Games.
