As Motspur Park approaches its 100th anniversary in July, it has received an early gift: the station is now step-free, thanks to an £11.4 million investment aimed at improving accessibility on Network Rail’s Wessex route.
A new covered footbridge has been installed, replacing the old structure and providing step-free access to the central platform via lifts or stairs from both sides of the station. Additionally, new lighting and security cameras have been added around the lifts and bridge. The station now also boasts a new waiting room, accessible toilet, and ticket office.
Network Rail collaborated with South Western Railway (SWR) and the London Borough of Merton Council to complete these enhancements, with the Council contributing £690,000 to the project.
Located in southwest London, Motspur Park opened on 12 July 1925 and is situated just off the South West Main Line. It serves as a junction between the Mole Valley Line towards Dorking and the Chessington branch line. Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, the station saw 778,138 passengers.
Motspur Park is also the nearest station to Fulham FC’s training ground, where the club’s Academy and Women’s teams play their matches. The Fulham FC Foundation, the club’s charitable arm, is based at Motspur Park and works to engage young people in sports and community activities.
These improvements were funded by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme, which aims to create obstacle-free, accessible routes from station entrances to platforms. This typically involves installing lifts or ramps and carrying out associated works and refurbishments.
Similar accessibility upgrades are expected to be completed at Stoneleigh, Barnes, Teddington, and Farnborough North stations this year, further increasing the number of accessible stations on Network Rail’s Wessex route, which serves parts or all of Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
The year 2025 also marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. Under the banner of Railway 200, nationwide celebrations are planned throughout the year to showcase how the railway has shaped Britain and the world, and how its pioneering spirit continues to influence the future. Railway 200 invites everyone to participate in this once-in-a-generation celebration by displaying the Railway 200 logo, organising events and activities, running competitions, or sharing rail stories.
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “We’re working to make the railway easier to use for everyone so I’m delighted that the island platform at Motspur Park now has step-free access from both sides of the station.
“We welcome the continued investment from the DfT to support us in making even more stations fully accessible and we have a number of other stations across our Southern region that are currently being upgraded or about to benefit from accessibility improvements in the coming months.
“We are also grateful for the support of Merton Council to improve access to the station and the enthusiasm in which they are supporting the railway.
“We would like to thank passengers and local residents for their patience and understanding while we carried out this work and we hope passengers enjoy this newly upgraded station."
David Wilby, South Western Railway’s Regional Development Manager for the Metro Region: “We’re very pleased to be celebrating the opening of this new footbridge for Motspur Park station, alongside our colleagues at Network Rail.
“Just as the arrival of the railway 100 years ago opened up links to new places and new opportunities, this new footbridge will unlock new opportunities for the local community by making the wider railway more accessible.
“We’d like to thank the London Borough of Merton Council and the Department for Transport, for their support and for making this possible.”
Image & Video credit: Network Rail
