Fulham Broadway Tube station's glass canopy gets long-awaited repair

"Fulham Broadway tube station is about to get a major facelift, with a full refurbishment of its distinctive Victorian glazed roof. The District line station first opened in 1880, complete with the wrought-iron trusses that still span the platforms today. The roof was last partially overhauled in 2003, when the main entrance was relocated to the adjoining shopping centre, but those works mostly replaced broken glass panels rather than tackling the structure itself."

"Transport for London ( TfL) says approximately 45 panels have been damaged since the start of 2020, with the remaining panels vulnerable and at risk of falling at any time. Some have been given temporary polycarbonate replacements while awaiting full repair work. It's thought that the damage is coming from people getting to the neighbouring shopping centre's roof. Therefore, in 2023, Transport for London applied for planning permission to repair the roof, and they've now confirmed that work will start next month."

"To repair the damage and improve the station's appearance, TfL plans to replace all 320 glazed panels in one go. The aim is to replace the polycarbonate panels with heritage glazed glass, which is less prone to yellowing over time, so the station should be brighter with more daylight getting through the glazed ceiling. The refurbishment will also replace the glazing bars, which are fine for holding the glass, but not strong enough to be classed as "non-fragile"."

The District line station first opened in 1880 and retains wrought-iron trusses spanning the platforms. The roof was partially overhauled in 2003, but that work mainly replaced broken glass panels rather than addressing the structure. Since 2020 about 45 panels have been damaged and remaining panels are vulnerable to falling; some have temporary polycarbonate replacements. Damage is believed to stem from access via the neighbouring shopping centre roof. TfL applied for planning permission in 2023 and confirmed works will start on 3 December and take around 11 months. All 320 glazed panels will be replaced with heritage glazed glass and the glazing bars upgraded to stronger bars.

Read at ianVisits