Wednesday 3 Jul 2013
Easier access for Cumbrian Coast passengers
- Region & Route:
Passengers using the Cumbrian Coast line will soon benefit from better access as a project to provide easier access between platforms and trains gets underway at a number of stations this month.
The £5m project will provide easier access on 80 platforms at 62 stations in England and Wales and eight stations in Cumbria will be the first to see the benefit of this investment. The project follows the pioneering work undertaken at Harrington and six other stations which were funded by Cumbria County Council.
The easier access areas are a modular system used to raise the height of platforms which in the past have been too low for some passengers to use.
Dyan Crowther, Network Rail route managing director explained: “Passengers with mobility problems, pushchairs, wheelchairs and even lots of luggage have struggled to use many stations along the line because of the large gap between the platform and the train.
“The solution is simple, and cost effective. Rather than an expensive platform rebuild, sections of platforms are raised to the same height as the train door. Importantly, the structure is also ramped making it ideal for anyone to use.”
Funding was provided by the Department for Transport’s Access For All programme, supported by Cumbria County Council and Northern Rail and will be delivered by Network Rail.
Rail minister Norman Baker said: “Improvements like these make a real difference to those using the railways. Opening up access at stations and providing step-free routes gives all passengers, including those with disabilities and parents with young children, greater access to employment and social opportunities”.
“And everyone feels the benefit of taking a train from stations with improved facilities and layout.”
Craig Harrop, client and stakeholder manager for Northern Rail, comments: “We are delighted to work in partnership with Network Rail and other industry partners to make improvements allowing passengers, who have previously been unable to travel by train, to use the rail network.”
The eight stations are Bootle (Cumbria), Braystones, Corkickle, Drigg, Flimby, Kents Bank, Parton and Wigton.
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for transport, said: “Cumbria has led the way in providing innovative solutions to the challenges of passenger access. Our Harrington Hump scheme has won national awards, with the term now ensuring Harrington will have its place in railway history for ever more. This new investment in our railway infrastructure along the Cumbrian Coast and Furness Lines highlights the council's commitment to improving transport links and I hope it encourages more people to use this section of the rail network."
Notes to editors
Railways first came to Britain almost 200 years ago. Different stations were built by different railway companies and there was no uniformity in their design. Consequently, the height of the platforms varied considerably with low platforms being a particular problem at smaller rural stations.
This has left a legacy of stations for the modern-day railway that simply cannot be used by the disabled, elderly, parents with children in buggies and even those with heavy luggage.
The easier access area is a system for raising the height of platforms, the structure can built to any length and is variable in height so it will suit any platform, no matter how large the difference in height between the platform and the train. The areas are ramped, making it ideal for anyone to use.
The system is particularly suitable for smaller rural stations where the railway can be the lifeblood of the community. Groups of people who may have been previously been denied access to the railway network at these locations could have untold journey opportunities opened up to them.
The system can be custom built to suit the needs of a particular station and installed in a matter of days at a fraction of the accepted cost of rebuilding the platform. The works cost typically £25k to £50k per station depending on complexity and size of the job.
The Easier Access Areas in Cumbria will be made from fibre reinforced plastic (FRP). They are being manufactured in Bristol by Polydeck Ltd and installed by Murphy Group Limited for Network Rail. Work is due to start on site imminently and will be complete in September 2013.
Stations will remain open and train services will continue to run throughout the project.
Details of the remaining stations to be delivered in England & Wales will be confirmed later this year.
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