Media centre

Thursday 20 Jul 2006

ALL CHANGE AS NEW PLATFORMS ARRIVE AT NORTH WEST STATIONS

Region & Route:

An investment of £12 million by Network Rail will allow the platforms at four North West railway stations to be completely rebuilt and renewed, transforming the travel experience for the passengers who use them. Mauldeth Road, Burnage, East Didsbury and Gatley on Manchester’s Styal line to the airport will all get the makeover between the end of July 2006 and spring 2007.  And the makeover includes:

• State of the art steel platforms with non-slip surfaces
• Tactile strips to help blind and visually impaired people be aware of the platform edge
• Modern waiting shelters
• New lighting
• Access ramps for people in wheelchairs and those with buggies
• The removal of unsightly redundant buildings

 Simon Kirby, Network Rail’s Director of Major Projects & Investments, said: This investment in the North West is just one part of our plans to renew and improve station facilities across the rail network.  These platforms have reached the end of their useful life, and we are replacing them with state of the art facilities that local passengers deserve.”The existing platforms – which were built on stilts – were constructed in the 1950s; they have reached the end of their useful life and are beyond further repairs. Work starts at East Didsbury on Sunday 23 July and is due to be completed in September. During this time trains will not be able to call at the station and train operator Northern will lay on replacement buses to take passengers to nearby stations. At the same time, work will start on Mauldeth Road station. However, because of the length of the platforms it will be possible to carry out the work without disrupting train services. Gatley and Burnage stations will be upgraded later in the year.