New Crossrail route map disabled icons 'are wrong'

Mislabelled: The wheelchair icons are the wrong way round compared with Tube maps
Transport for London
Tom Marshall24 February 2016

Transport bosses faced criticism from disabled commuters today after stations were apparently mislabelled on the new Crossrail map.

The map was published on Tuesday as the long-awaited rail route due to open in December 2018 was renamed the Elizabeth line in honour of the Queen.

But disability groups have spotted an error in the way wheelchair access has been presented – leaving people unsure about which stations are fully accessible.

The colour-coding of the wheelchair sign used to indicate whether stations have step-free access all the way to trains, or only to the platforms, has been reversed compared with the normal Tube map.

Robert Meadowcroft, chief executive of the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “This is a regrettable error, and while there is time to correct the mistake, this will not fill disabled passengers with confidence.

“Many people rely on clear, concise access information and need to know that consistency will be applied across the network.”

The problem lies with the map’s key, which suggests a blue circle containing a white wheelchair icon means partial accessibility, with step-free access to platforms but not trains.

On TfL’s other maps, this icon indicates full access from the street onto trains.

Disabled commuters were left baffled as they were unsure whether the map itself follows the misprinted key or the normal key for Tube maps.

Mr Meadowcroft said the mistake added to disabled commuters’ frustration that the new line will not be fully accessible.

He added: “With so much of our public transport system inaccessible to disabled people, new infrastructure projects such as Crossrail are a valuable opportunity to get things right.

“Many disabled people remain deeply frustrated that on the brand new line, a huge investment for London, not all the stations will be fully accessible.

“I urge Crossrail to consider the issue of full accessibility again.”

Transport for London later apologised for the error and confirmed that the stations showing a blue circle and white wheelchair, mostly in central London, were the ones with step free access to trains.

Howard Smith, TfL’s operations director of Crossrail, said: “This was an error in an early version of the map and has now been corrected. The whole line will be accessible for customers with lifts at all stations and manual boarding ramps at stations that require them.

"We apologise for any confusion but would like to reassure customers that all maps and customer information will be correct for when the Elizabeth line opens in December 2018."

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