Improved Ealing Broadway station designs revealed

Redesigned proposals for improvements to Ealing Broadway station have been revealed by Crossrail.

Since submitting proposals at the end of last year, Crossrail has been working closely with Ealing Council, local developers and nearby landowners to broaden the scheme and revise the plans for the station. There has also been close consultation with the local MP and community groups, allowing them the opportunity to comment on the designs.

The new proposals for the station, designed by Bennetts Associates Architects, include the addition of a long, curved canopy running the length of the forecourt that reflects the prominence and importance of the station building.

Crossrail’s plans allow for the current dated façade to be replaced with a new glass structure and a new entrance twice the size of the existing one, which will allow much more natural light into the building.
Inside the station, improvements comprise:

• A ticket hall more than twice the size of the existing one with capacity for 17 standard ticket gates and one wide gate
• Four new lifts to provide step free access from street level to all platforms
• Improved staircases for platforms 1 and 2/3
• Platform extensions to accommodate the new high capacity Crossrail trains
• New toilet facilities
• New customer information screens, station signage, help points and CCTV

The revised designs will be open to community consultation before Ealing Council takes its decision on planning.

Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council said: “The council was determined to secure a high quality station for Ealing Broadway and has worked hard with Crossrail to ensure the designs match Ealing’s aspirations.
“The council is pleased that, following our intervention, Crossrail decided to completely re-think its plans and responded constructively to the design observations we put forward. We are confident that the revised station plans will create a building which works better for people and is of a scale and appearance that benefits Ealing as west London’s premier town centre.

“The council is also currently finalising further plans which will transform the entire area around the station, as well as improve safety and transport links, and upgrade the look and feel of the area. These plans will be announced shortly.”

Matthew White, Crossrail Surface Director, said: “Ealing Broadway will be a key stop on the Crossrail route and we understand the need to provide local people with a much better station building than they have at the moment.

“By working with the council, community groups, developers and nearby landowners we have improved our proposals and broadened the scheme. Our plans are for a station that will be brighter, more spacious, easier to get around and more visually prominent.”

Crossrail will provide a step change in public transport for people in Ealing – better stations, new and longer trains, faster journeys. Residents will be able to catch up to ten Crossrail services an hour right through the centre of the capital, making it quicker and easier to get to a range of destinations across London and the South East. The station will also be an interchange with the District and Central lines on the Underground as well as National Rail services.

By improving transport links, Crossrail is already unlocking development opportunities in west London, encouraging investment and supporting local jobs and businesses. Almost half of planning applications (44%) within a kilometre of the five stations in the London Borough of Ealing cited the new railway as a justification for the development proceeding. This equates to an estimated 260,000 square metres of residential, commercial and retail space.