Connecting Clapham Junction

For several years, the council has proposed reopening the old station entrance at the top of St. John's Hill through Brighton Yard. This would lead onto the existing station footbridge and provide a step-free route onto the platforms via the new lifts being provided for each platform. The new entrance would relieve much of the congestion at the existing entrance.

The railway industry has finally agreed in principle to this entrance after the council offered £300,000 as partnership funding to improve Brighton Yard. A number of other parties have also contributed to the scheme, including Network Rail, South West Trains, Transport for London and the Railway Heritage Trust. This additional funding has allowed a much improved design, include a forecourt with vehicle access and a passenger drop off area, a taxi rank, step-free pedestrian access and covered cycle parking. The station entrance will include ticket vending machines, a staffed ticket office, automatic ticket barriers, customer information screens, two retail units, toilets and baby changing facilities.

The new entrance will provide disabled passengers with step-free access onto all platforms, and also allow thousands of commuters a more direct route to reach their trains by completely avoiding the congested main entrance and subway tunnel. The total project costs are expected to be around £1.5 million.

The council is still awaiting confirmation of the plans and agreement that the works will go ahead.

See Network Rail's proposed ticket office plan and forecourt plan. The designs are at an early stage of development and may be subject to change.