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Waterloo Underground Station - Boarding the Waterloo & City Line

York Road, London, SE1 7ND

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Access Guide

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Introduction - Boarding (the Waterloo & City Line)

  • Access Routes Summary View
    • There are many ways to access the Waterloo & City line.
      The shortest route is via the main underground ticket hall and is described in detail below (Route 1).
      The approximate distance of this route is 100 metres (via the ramp).
      Route 2 is the route from the York Road entrance.
      The approximate distance of this route is 200 metres.
      Alternative stepped routes are then described as these are all in operation during peak times.
  • Distance(s) from Access Point(s) to Platform(s) View
    • The shortest distance via steps/escalators to the Waterloo & City line is 100m.
    • This is via the access point located next to mainline platform 19.

Station Access Point (Route 1 - Enter the Underground Station from the Mainline Concourse)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on the Waterloo Station concourse, next to platform 19.
    • This access point is signed with 'WATERLOO UNDERGROUND STATION - Bakerloo, Northern and Waterloo & City lines'.
    • There are escalators or stepped access at this access point.

Escalator(s) (Route 1 - Take the Escalator Down to the Underground Ticket Hall (Bypasses 52 Steps))

  • Escalator(s) View
    • Escalators can be used to access other floors.
    • The escalator(s) is/are located immediately beyond the access point, to the right of the stairs.
    • The escalator(s) is/are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The escalators go both up and down.
    • The escalator(s) steps are not clearly marked.
    • The foot and head of the escalator(s) are not clearly marked.
    • The lighting levels at the escalator(s) are low to moderate.

Ramp(s) or Slope(s) (Route 1 - Proceed Straight Ahead Through Main Ticket Hall to Waterloo & City Line Concourse)

  • There is a ramp/slope located between the access point escalators and the Waterloo & City line concourse.
  • The ramp/slope is used to access the Waterloo & City line concourse.
  • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are moderate to good.

Concourse (Route 1 - Pass Through the Waterloo & City Line Departures Concourse)

  • Access View
    • There is level access throughout this concourse area.
  • Maps and Signage View
    • There are tube and rail maps and service update screens in this concourse area.
    • Signage in this concourse area includes; directional to mainline platforms and directional to lines .
  • Other Features and Facilities View
    • There are 2 help points in this concourse area.
    • The help points are fitted with hearing loop systems.
    • 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.

Ramp(s) or Slope(s) (Route 1 - Take the Ramp Down to the Waterloo & City Line Platform)

  • There is a ramp/slope located in the Waterloo & City line concourse area.
  • The ramp/slope is used to access the Waterloo & City line departures platform.
  • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
  • The ramp/slope does not have resting areas.
  • The ramp/slope is approximately 40m in length.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.
  • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
  • Handrails are easy to grip.
  • The width of the ramp/slope is 130cm (4ft 3in).
  • The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are moderate to good.
  • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Comments View
    • The central handrail for the ramp also has a lowered handrail.

Step(s) (Route 1 - Alternatively Take the Steps Down to the Waterloo & City Line Platform)

  • There is a/are step(s) located on the Waterloo & City line concourse area.
  • The step(s) is/are used to access the Waterloo & City line departures platforms.
  • There is/are 28 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 between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.
  • Handrails are 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.
  • The lighting levels at the step(s) are moderate to good.

Platform(s) (Route 1 - Reach Waterloo & City Line Departure Platform)

  • Platform Information View
    • This is a straight platform.
    • There is a slope to and from a raised section in the centre of the platform.
    • 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 25cm.
    • There are tube maps on this platform.
    • Signage on this platform includes; directional to other lines and directional to way out.
    • Announcements on this platform are audio and visual.
    • There are 2 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; 102cm (emergency) and 112cm (information).
    • There is fixed bench seating with and without armrests on this platform.
    • The height of the seating is 52cm.
    • The width of the majority of seats is 46cm.
    • The colour contrast for the seating is good.
    • The colour contrast between the wall and platform is poor.
    • There are some patterns on the platform which might look like steps or holes to some people.
    • Lighting levels are low to moderate.

Route 2 - Via York Road Entrance

  • The approximate distance of this route is 200 metres (not including escalators).
  • This route includes; 2 escalators and either a 40 metre ramp (with a steep gradient) or 28 steps down.
  • Step 1 - enter the underground station via the entrance on York Road.
  • Step 2 - pass through the ticket barriers and proceed to the escalators on the left hand side.
  • Step 3 - take the escalator down to the Bakerloo line concourse area.
  • Step 4 - proceed straight ahead to the opposite end of the concourse.
  • Step 5 - take the escalator up to the main underground ticket hall.
  • Step 6 - bear diagonally left down the slope and pass through the ticket barriers.
  • Step 7 – take the passage to the right of the pillar, past the ticket machines, down the slope and turn right.
  • Step 8 – pass through the doorway onto the Waterloo & City line concourse area.
  • Step 9 – either take the steps or the steep slope down to the Waterloo & City line departures platform.

Alternative Route - Access Point Next to Platform 7

  • There is an access point opposite mainline platform 7 which links to the Waterloo & City line concourse via a passage.
  • This route is approximately 115 metres (not including steps) and involves 46 steps and a 40 metre ramp (with a steep gradient) down to the platform.
  • The first 20 steps are not clearly marked.
  • All steps have handrails on both sides.

Alternative Routes - Peak Times from Mainline Platforms

  • There are stepped access points on most of the mainline platforms which lead down to an underground National Rail link passage.
  • These access points are only in use during peak times.
  • The distance of this route will depend on which mainline platform access point you use.
  • There are approximately 35 steps leading down and not all steps are clearly marked.
  • The steps have handrails on both sides.
  • All these stepped access points lead to the same National Rail link passage.
  • From this passage there are 17 more steps leading down to a peak time underground concourse area.
  • The Waterloo & City line concourse area can then be accessed from here after you pass through the ticket barriers.