Overview

Ilford is a stop on the Elizabeth line. The station was refurbished as part of the Elizabeth line development and you can really feel that in the main entrance to the station. It’s clean, light, and spacious. The signage to lifts and platforms was clear and staff were prompt, friendly and helpful.

Transport & Parking

There are regular Elizabeth line trains going through this station. Eastbound services will continue at stops to Shenfield. Westbound services travel to Reading and Heathrow. The station has three entrances. Each one has bus stops really close by meaning there are a large number of buses that stop very close to the station. These buses include: 25, 86, 123, 128, 145, 147, 150, 167, 169, 179, 296, 364, 366, 396, 425, 462, 667, 677, 679, W19, EL1, N25, N86, SL2 (Superloop) The station doesn’t have parking but there are some options nearby: Exchange Ilford: the shopping centre is 320 metres away from the station and has a large multi-storey car park across six levels. It has 31 disabled parking bays on levels two and three. It also has 40 family parking bays. The parking is paid for and operated by cameras that register your number plate as you enter and leave the car park. You can pay for parking with machines inside the centre or via an app or website on your phone. There is a height limit of 2.08 metres. CitiPark Clements Road: another multi-storey car park which has disabled spaces and electric vehicle charging. It is a little over 800 metres from the station and a 24 hour car park. Cost to park here starts from £1.20 for an hour and goes up to £8.00 for 24 hours. Charges can be paid for via machines (no cash) inside the car park or via an app on your phone. There is a height limit of 1.86 metres. Sainsbury’s Superstore: this superstore is just under 650 metres from the station and it has a large car park. There is an upper floor with more parking available and some undercover parking beneath this upper level. Parking restrictions may apply.

Access

There are three entrances to the station: 1. The main entrance on Cranbrook Road is the largest and provides step-free access to all platforms. There are manned ticket desks that are lowered as well as accessible ticket barriers. There were plenty of staff here to assist me as I was using the station. This is the recommended entrance to use. 2. There is another entrance on Ilford Hill that provides step-free access to platform one which is currently not in use. From here you would then use the lift to reach the Cranbrook Road entrance which would then lead you to the lifts for the Elizabeth line platforms. 3. There is a small entrance on York Road that leads onto platform four (Eastbound Elizabeth Line service) which doesn’t have step-free access. There are four platforms at this station that all have tactile markers at the edge. Platforms one and two are currently not in use. Platforms three and four provide access to Elizabeth line services. On platform three there are also male and female toilets, a waiting area and a small kiosk for refreshments and snacks. On platform four there is an accessible toilet. There is lots of seating available up and down all the platforms. Ramps are required to board the Elizabeth line for those who need step-free access. Staff were on hand when I used the station but there are information points on the platforms too. Braille and hearing loops were used in all lifts and there was a hearing loop operating for the station as a whole too.

Toilets

The accessible toilet was located on platform four and was a very large toilet. The door was opened with a RADAR key, it wasn’t heavy and it opened outwards. It then had a grab rail on the inside to assist with closing the door from the inside. The toilet was very clean and well-maintained. There were four fixed grab rails, two vertically mounted above the sink, one vertically mounted beside the toilet and a horizontal one on the other side of the toilet. There was also a grab rail that could be raised and lowered. The toilet had plenty of space for a left-side transfer and had a manual flush with a larger, rounded end on the flush handle. The emergency red cord was hanging freely to the floor. The sink was small with a manually operated tap (no automatic sensors) and a wall-mounted soap dispenser above it. There was an automatic hand dryer mounted to the wall to the right of the sink. A large mirror was mounted to the wall. There was also a small shelf inside the toilet which was low enough for me to place my bag on.

Staff

The staff were really helpful and efficient at this station. I had arranged a ramp when I started my journey and I was met by a staff member who assisted me off the train. The staff in the main entrance were also really helpful and the information and ticket desk was manned. When I returned and requested ramp assistance both to board and exit at the other end I was helped very quickly. There was plenty of staff available to help including a member of staff visible on both operational platforms who were close to the accessible boarding point.

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