Transport for LondonTube
Multi-purpose area
- Planning your journey
- Entering the station
- Buying a ticket
- Getting to the platform
- Boarding a train
- On the train
Planning your journey
The 24-hour travel information centre (020 7222 1234 or Minicom 020 7918 3015) or Journey Planner can help you plan a journey which best meets your needs.
Our accessible Tube maps include details of step-free access. Further information is also available from our Customer Service Centre (0845 330 9880), which can also provide an audio version of the Tube map.
A number of stations have audible descriptions available from Describe Online. You can find detailed information on access to individual stations at Direct Enquiries.
Occasionally, a lift may be out of service. You can check this before you travel by using Journey Planner or calling our Customer Service Centre. Alternatively, you can sign-up for TfL travel alerts.
Entering the station
London Underground currently has 48 stations which are step-free from street to platform; full details can be found in the Tube access guide.
All car parks operated by us have accessible spaces, free for use by Blue Badge holders.
Buying a ticket
If you need help buying a ticket you can ask at the ticket office, or a member of staff in the ticket hall can help you use the ticket machines.
All of our ticket offices have induction loops, which you can use by switching your hearing aid to the T position.
Getting to the platform
At the station you can ask a member of staff to help you get to the platform. All our frontline staff have disability equality training and they will be able to assist blind and partially-sighted customers.
Many of our stations have wide-aisle automatic ticket gates (wider than standard gates) that you can operate, so you don't have to wait to be let through a manual gate.
Priority seating
If you have a guide dog, staff will help you avoid escalators where possible, or stop them to allow you and your dog to walk. However, at busy times it may not be possible to stop escalators immediately, due to overcrowding. If you feel able you may carry your dog on the escalator.
For your safety and that of other customers, you are not permitted to use an escalator while in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs can be folded and carried; please ask a member of staff for help.
Tactile warning surfaces are being installed on all staircases and priority seats are being introduced on platforms.
Boarding a train
A member of staff will help you onto the train and, if necessary, help you find a seat. They will then call ahead to your destination or interchange stations and arrange for a member of staff to meet and assist you there too.
Tactile warning surface
Tactile warning surfaces are being installed on every platform.
Many stations have a step into the train which may be as high as 12 inches (300mm). There may also be a gap. Please check before you travel whether you can manage this.
We are trialling some innovative new ways to decrease the step-gap between the platform and the train, including platform humps (at London Bridge, Wembley Park and on the Waterloo &City line), and changes to track height (on the Central and Jubilee lines).
On the train
All trains have priority seating, clearly marked next to doors. These are for disabled people, pregnant women, older people, those travelling with children and anyone less able to stand. Customers are expected to leave these seats free or vacate them if they see someone who might require a seat. If no one offers, feel free to ask.
Priority seating on the train
The number of seats is being increased across all London Underground lines and the location of seats is being standardised so people know where to expect them.
Pregnant women can also wear a 'Baby on board' badge to let other passengers know they may need a seat. These are available from our Customer Service Centre, or by calling 0845 330 9880 or emailing babyonboard@tfl.gov.uk.
District, Jubilee and Northern lines have multipurpose areas suitable for wheelchairs, luggage and pushchairs.
All trains, apart from the Metropolitan line and some District line trains, have automatic voice announcements. These announce the current and next stations, and the destination of the train.
Service disruption information will be broadcast by the driver using the public address system.
The District, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines have visual information displays inside the train. These show the current and next stations, and the destination of the train.
