The station, which is served by the Liberty line, District line and c2c services was listed by the government among 50 other stations across the UK that have been earmarked for step-free access upgrades.
Currently, there is step-free access to five of the six platforms at the station, but not to platform six, where Liberty line trains run to Romford.
It is likely that any upgrade of the station would see lifts or ramps installed at this platform.
Last year, Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, called on the government to commit to improving access to platform six at Upminster station.
“This is both the only platform within Upminster station and on this branch of the London Overground not to have step-free access,” she said.
“It is worth acknowledging that the entirety of the Elizabeth line has step-free access making platform six a particularly glaring omission from an otherwise very accessible corner of the TfL network.
“Making that platform accessible would be especially valuable for those with cases who want to get to Heathrow on the Elizabeth line or older people, parents with buggies and disabled people who want to go to work, shop or socialise in Romford.”
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has now confirmed that a feasibility study for the upgrade works at the station would be funded through part of £92 billion worth of funding allocated to road and rail projects.
The cash for the upgrade will come from the Department for Transport (DfT) Access for All fund, which enables accessibility improvements to be carried out at railway station across Britain.
Elly Baker, London Assembly Labour spokesperson for transport, has said that the funding was “welcome news”.
“I’m particularly pleased to see support for Rail Access for All feasibility studies, an area we’ve long championed at City Hall to help make our transport network more inclusive and accessible for everyone,” she added.
The government has also committed funding to the redevelopment of Euston station alongside the HS2 scheme, as well as ensuring that there is the option to connect the Chiltern line to Old Oak Common station at a future date.
The other London stations that have received funding for feasibility studies to make them step-free are:
- Bushey
- Dalston Kingsland
- Gunnersbury
- Kew Bridge
- Kidbrooke
- Raynes Park
- South Croydon
