Ilford station to undergo major transformation as part of Crossrail project

Proposals for a new station building in Ilford, east London, have been unveiled as part of improvements being delivered for Crossrail.

Network Rail has submitted plans for a new station building at Ilford, providing a spacious interior with glass façade allowing natural light into the station. Building work is being carried out to prepare the station for the start of Elizabeth line services from 2019.

Further improvements will include, longer platforms, improved lighting, signage, customer information points, CCTV and overhead information screens. Elsewhere, there will be a larger ticket hall and new lifts providing step-free access from street level to all platforms.

Crossrail improvements to Ilford station include longer platforms and step-free access

Matthew White, Crossrail Surface Director said: “These major improvements will make travelling through Ilford station a vastly better experience for the many thousands of people who use it every day. The proposals for the striking façade and new, spacious ticket hall are designed to underline the importance of the station and of the Elizabeth line to the local area.”

From May 2017, the first new trains will be gradually introduced between Shenfield in Essex and Liverpool Street Main Line station. In May 2019, up to 12 Elizabeth line trains an hour will allow passengers from Ilford to travel directly to central London, opening up a range of destinations across the capital.

Matthew Steele, Crossrail Programme Director at Network Rail, commented: “This planning application represents a significant step towards preparing Ilford station for the arrival of the new train service. The proposed design not only looks great but will increase capacity and accessibility with the addition of step-free access. This enhanced design will therefore secure Ilford station’s future to meet the expected growth in demand for rail travel.”

Mark Woodcock, Associate Architect at Atkins, which has designed the new station building, added: “The new station design seeks to become the starting point for a wider regeneration plan for the London Borough of Redbridge. It is designed to be a significant presence, not only visible from Cranbrook Road, but also from Balfour Road and Ilford Hill, from where the station with its sloping and projecting curved roofline and glazed lift tower is intended to act as a common converging point from these routes.”