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Waterloo Underground Station - Boarding the Northern Line

York Road, London, SE1 7ND

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Access Guide

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Introduction - Boarding (the Northern Line)

  • Access Routes Summary View
    • There are many ways to access the Northern line.
      This access guide describes 3 suggested routes.
      Route 1 is the shortest route and is described in detail below (via York Road entrance).
      Route 2 is the route via the main underground ticket hall.
      Route 3 is a longer route from the Waterloo Road entrance via the Jubilee interchange passage which bypasses the escalators.
      Please note there is only stepped access to the Northern line platforms whichever route you take.
  • Distance(s) from Access Point(s) to Platform(s) View
    • The shortest distance via steps/escalators to the Northern line (northbound and southbound) is 55m.
    • This is via the access point located on York Road.

Outside Access (Route 1 - Enter the Station via the York Road Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located on York Road.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'WATERLOO UNDERGROUND STATION'.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • There are bollards at this entrance.
    • The minimum width between the bollards is 100cm.
    • The bollards do not contrast visually with the flooring but have an identification band.
    • There is a member of staff available for assistance at this entrance.

Concourse (Route 1 - Pass Through the York Road Entrance Ticket Hall)

  • Access View
    • There is level access throughout this concourse area.
  • Barriers View
    • The width of the standard barriers is 60cm.
    • The ticket slot heights for the standard barriers are 91cm (insert ticket) and 103cm (remove ticket).
    • The Oyster card reader height is 100cm for the standard barriers.
    • The width of the wider access barriers is 87cm.
    • The ticket slot heights for the wider access barriers are 91cm (insert ticket) and 103cm (remove ticket).
    • The Oyster card reader height is 100cm for the wider access barriers.
    • Staff are available to provide assistance at the barriers.
  • Maps and Signage View
    • There are tube maps, tube and rail maps, service update screens, digital display(s) for train times, Night Tube and London Overground maps and bus route maps in this concourse area.
    • Signage in this concourse area includes; TFL/tourist directional, directional to lines and directional to exits .
  • Other Features and Facilities View
    • There is 1 help point in this concourse area.
    • The help point is fitted with a hearing loop system.
    • The Oyster machine controls/screen heights vary between 75cm and 120cm.
    • Announcements in this concourse area are visual.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor in this concourse area is good.
    • Seating is not available in this concourse area.
    • The lighting levels are low to moderate.
    • The help point was not in service at the time of the survey.

Escalator(s) (Route 1 - Take an Escalator Down to the Bakerloo Line Concourse)

  • Escalator(s) View
    • Escalators can be used to access other floors.
    • The escalator(s) is/are located between the York Road entrance and Bakerloo line concourses.
    • The escalators have overhead signage for the Bakerloo line, the Northern line, the Jubilee line and the Waterloo & City line.
    • The escalators go both up and down.
    • The escalator(s) steps are not clearly marked.
    • The foot and head of the escalator(s) are clearly marked.
    • The lighting levels at the escalator(s) are good.

Concourse (Route 1 - Turn Left and Take the First Passage Towards the Northern Line)

  • Access View
    • There is level access throughout this concourse area.
  • Maps and Signage View
    • There are tube maps, tube and rail maps, TFL maps, Bakerloo line maps, Northern line maps and Jubilee line maps in this concourse area.
    • Signage in this concourse area includes; directional to lines, directional to exits and TFL/tourist directional .
  • Other Features and Facilities View
    • There is 1 help point in this concourse area.
    • The help point is fitted with a hearing loop system.
    • The height of the buttons at the help point(s) are; 110cm (emergency) and 102cm (information).
    • Announcements in this concourse area are audio.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor in this concourse area is good.
    • Seating is not available in this concourse area.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Step(s) (Route 1 - Turn Left and Take the Steps Down to the Platforms)

  • There is a/are step(s) located between the passage and the platforms.
  • The step(s) is/are used to access the Northern line northbound platform 1 and the Northern line southbound platform 2.
  • There is/are 20 step(s).
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) has/have tactile paving at the top and bottom.
  • The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The going of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.
  • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
  • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • Handrails are easy to grip.
  • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.

Platform(s) (Reach Northern Line Northbound Platform 1 - Left Hand Side)

  • Access to Platform View
    • There are 4 access points onto this platform.
  • Platform Information View
    • This is a straight platform.
    • The platform is flat throughout its length.
    • There are tactile markings along the platform edge, throughout its length.
    • The edge of the platform is clearly marked.
    • The maximum gap between the platform and train when boarding/alighting is 22cm.
    • There are tube maps, Northern line maps, digital display(s) for train times and Night Tube and London Overground maps on this platform.
    • Signage on this platform includes; directional to other lines, directional to way out, TFL/tourist directional and directional to mainline station.
    • Announcements on this platform are audio and visual.
    • There are 3 help points on this platform.
    • The help points are fitted with hearing loop systems.
    • The height of the buttons at the help point(s) are; 100cm (emergency) and 110cm (information).
    • There is fixed bench seating with armrests on this platform.
    • The height of the seating is 48cm.
    • The width of the majority of seats is 50cm.
    • The colour contrast for the seating is good.
    • The colour contrast between the wall and platform is good.
    • There are patterns on the platform which might look like steps or holes to some people.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Access from the Platform View
    • There is/are 4 exit point(s) from this platform.

Platform(s) (Reach Northern Line Southbound Platform 2 - Right Hand Side)

  • Access to Platform View
    • There are 4 access points onto this platform.
  • Platform Information View
    • This is a straight platform.
    • The platform is flat throughout its length.
    • There are tactile markings along the platform edge, throughout its length.
    • The edge of the platform is clearly marked.
    • The maximum gap between the platform and train when boarding/alighting is 22cm.
    • There are tube maps, Northern line maps, digital display(s) for train times and Night Tube and London Overground maps on this platform.
    • Signage on this platform includes; directional to other lines, directional to way out, TFL/tourist directional and directional to mainline station.
    • Announcements on this platform are audio.
    • There are 3 help points on this platform.
    • The help points are fitted with hearing loop systems.
    • The height of the buttons at the help point(s) are; 100cm (emergency) and 110cm (information).
    • There is fixed bench seating with armrests on this platform.
    • The height of the seating is 48cm.
    • The width of the majority of seats is 50cm.
    • The colour contrast for the seating is good.
    • The colour contrast between the wall and platform is good.
    • There are patterns on the platform which might look like steps or holes to some people.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Access from the Platform View
    • There is/are 4 exit point(s) from this platform.

Route 2 - Via Main Ticket Hall

  • The approximate distance of this route is 140 metres (not including escalators and steps).
  • This distance is taken from the foot of the escalator when you reach the underground station.
  • This route includes; 2 escalators and 20 steps down.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • Step 1 - enter the mainline station concourse via the Cab Road entrance or take a lift up from the Waterloo Road entrance.
  • Step 2 - bear diagonally right towards the underground access point next to platform 19.
  • Step 3 - take the escalator down to the main underground ticket hall.
  • Step 4 - turn right up the slope to the ticket barriers.
  • Step 5 - pass through the ticket barriers, then bear right towards the Northern line escalators
  • Step 6 - take the escalator down to the Northern line concourse area.
  • Step 7 - proceed to the rear of the concourse and take the passage on the left hand side, signed for the Northern line.
  • Step 8 - take the first passage on the right and go down the steps to the platforms.
  • at the foot of the steps the northbound platform 1 is on the left and the southbound platform 2 is on the right.

Route 3 - Via Waterloo Road Entrance and Jubilee Line Lift

  • The approximate distance of this route is 235 metres (not including travelator and steps).
  • This route includes; a lift, a travelator and 20 steps down.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • Step 1 - enter Waterloo Station via the Waterloo Road entrance.
  • Step 2 - turn right into the underground station.
  • Step 3 - pass through the ticket barriers.
  • Step 4 - bear left of the escalators and follow the signage along a walkway to the lift.
  • Step 5 - take the lift down to level -1.
  • Step 6 - exit the lift, bear left through the Jubilee line concourse and follow signage towards the Bakerloo line.
  • Step 7 - take the travelator along the Jubilee line interchange passage.
  • Step 8 - after the travelator take the passage opposite, signed for the Northern line.
  • Step 9 - follow the passage until you reach the Northern line concourse area.
  • Step 10 - cross the concourse into the opposite passage.
  • Step 11 - take the first passage on the right, signed for the Northern line.
  • Step 12 - go down the steps to the platforms.
  • At the foot of the steps the northbound platform 1 is on the left and the southbound platform 2 is on the right.