Following the council's petition to TfL to begin work to make Dagenham East station step-free, local organisations are making their voices heard too.  

Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, Eastbrook Film Studios, UCL and more have joined Barking and Dagenham council’s campaign to make Dagenham East tube station step-free. 

The station's usage has surged by 37% in three years, with 233,694 users in January 2025 alone.   

The station is situated in a key area for the borough that is continuing to grow. Over a billion pounds of private sector investment has gone into the nearby area in the past decade and this looks set to continue. 

Eastbrookend Country Park, the Chigwell Construction Stadium, Eastbrookend Film Studios and several schools and colleges are all situated near to the station – making the case for the implementation of step-free access even stronger. 

The lack of step-free access is currently a major barrier for families with buggies and people with limited mobility to get around. 

Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, London East-UK and Eastbrook Film Studios’ owner MBS have all penned open letters setting out why step-free access to the station is vital for them. 

The council is also pushing for Dagenham East to become a stop on the C2C line. 

Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, in an open letter to TfL, said: “Step-free access, and a C2C stop, at Dagenham East would mean the station finally reflects the scale of change underway in the area and I hope TfL will support it.” 

In an open letter to TfL from Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, Managing Director Stephen Thompson said: “We regularly host crowds of between 1,800 and 2,500 but also rising to 3,500 at times. 

“We provide ample disabled facilities within the stadium for both ambulant and non-ambulant users. I am sure that [the lack of step-free access] must affect many peoples choices when planning visiting our games.” 

Kim Donovan, Principal of Brook 6th Form & Academy, said in their open letter to TfL:“This is not only essential for ensuring equal opportunities but also vital for supporting the economic and social growth of the area.

“We urge Transport for London and relevant authorities to prioritise this matter and ensure that the momentum of this positive change in Dagenham East is not hindered by the outdated infrastructure.”

Residents can find out more about the campaign and sign the petition here.