TfL has trialled a small open-fronted “calm space” pod at Ealing Broadway station to support neurodivergent travellers, including people on the autism spectrum. While the scheme’s intent has been widely welcomed, many Facebook users criticised the pod’s size, openness and siting beside stairs and lifts, likening it to a “dog kennel” or “cupboard.” TfL says the unit will stay for at least four weeks while feedback is assessed; a second trial is planned at the London Transport Museum for eight weeks.
TfL’s ‘Calm Space’ Pod at Ealing Broadway Draws Praise — and Public Ridicule Over Size and Siting
One Facebook commenter described the refuge as "a calm space for ants." - TFL
Transport for London (TfL) has installed a small, open-fronted “calm space” pod at Ealing Broadway Tube station as part of a pilot to support neurodivergent travellers who may find loud, crowded transport environments overwhelming. The compact unit, manufactured by US firm NOOK, is intended as a quiet place where passengers can pause, regulate and recover before continuing their journeys.
What TfL Says
TfL said the trial — run in partnership with autism research charity Autistica — aims to improve accessibility for customers including people on the autism spectrum, many of whom face acute sensory challenges. The Ealing Broadway pod will remain in place for at least four weeks while TfL evaluates feedback and practical use. TfL also plans a second trial unit at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden for eight weeks.
Public Reaction
The initiative received mixed reactions after TfL posted details on Facebook. While many users welcomed the intent behind the pilot, a large number criticised the pod’s size, open design and location next to stairs and lifts — questioning whether the unit offers the privacy and calm it promises.
“From someone that needs it… It doesn't look like a calm space to me (the construction nor the location),”
Comments likened the pod to a “dog kennel,” “a calm space for ants,” or “basically a cupboard.” Several people suggested the unit’s openness — a bench with a roof rather than an enclosed room — leaves users exposed and visible to passersby. One commenter who identified as autistic wrote:
“That needs a door… You're literally exposed, it's just a bench with a roof.”
Design Concerns and Practical Points
Critics raised practical questions about siting and security: placing the pod at the top of stairs and near lifts may not create the quiet refuge intended, and several users worried it could be misused by teenagers or people seeking to shelter for other reasons. Others offered constructive suggestions, such as adding a door, shifting the unit’s orientation, or locating future pods in less trafficked, more private areas.
Responses From Partners
Autistica’s Senior Research Manager, Michelle Newman, emphasised the importance of accessible transport, saying that as efforts to create neuroinclusive spaces expand across education, healthcare and employment, accessibility must begin with the journey to those places.
TfL said it will continue to gather feedback during the trial. CNN has contacted TfL for further comment.
Trial Details: Ealing Broadway unit — minimum four weeks; London Transport Museum trial — eight weeks; pod supplied by NOOK; pilot run with Autistica; TfL reviewing public feedback.
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