New 'Calm Space' Being Trialled at Ealing Broadway Station

TfL aiming to support neuroinclusive travel

Ealing Broadway station platform. Picture: TfL

September 7, 2026

Transport for London has begun trialling a new “calm space” at Ealing Broadway station, offering passengers a quiet, low-stimulus environment to pause and recover during their journey. The initiative, developed in partnership with NOOK and the charity Autistica, is part of TfL’s wider Equity in Motion strategy, which aims to make London’s transport network more accessible and inclusive.

The calm space sits just beyond the gateline at Ealing Broadway and will remain in place until 2 October. It has been designed for passengers who may find busy stations overwhelming, providing a moment of respite before continuing their journey. According to TfL, the space “provides a welcoming, low-stimulation environment within the station where customers can take a moment away to rest.” It features an acoustic shelter to reduce noise, nature-inspired design elements, a calming colour palette and level access. There is room for mobility aids, buggies and assistance animals, with secure fixed seating to ensure safety and ease of maintenance.

TfL is encouraging passengers to visit the space and share their experiences through a customer survey or via its usual contact channels. The feedback will help shape future neuroinclusive design across the network. The trial is running alongside a second calm space at the London Transport Museum, which will open in the autumn for an eight-week period.

The project has been developed with lived experience at its core. Autistica worked with neurodivergent Londoners through workshops, focus groups and surveys to understand how calm spaces could support people during their journeys. Their research suggested that access to a quiet, low-stimulus environment can make a significant difference, helping passengers feel “more confident, independent and able to continue travelling when they might otherwise choose not to.”

Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard said: “Busy stations can be overwhelming for many customers using the capital’s transport network, and that can make travelling across our city feel daunting. That’s why I’m pleased that TfL have worked with partners to trial these new calm spaces, which offer Londoners and visitors somewhere to pause and reset so they can travel with confidence and independence.”

Mark Evers, who leads on Customer Insight, Strategy and Experience at TfL, emphasised the importance of understanding passenger needs: “Everyone should be able to travel confidently and independently across London, and we know that busy environments can sometimes pose a barrier and be overwhelming, particularly for our neurodivergent customers.”

NOOK founder David O’Coimin said the trial demonstrates what is possible when inclusive design and lived experience come together: “A small amount of thoughtfully designed space can make a significant difference to someone’s ability to travel, participate and feel independent and understood.”