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Tuesday 2 Sep 2025

Grays station gains step-free access with new lifts

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

A £9 million investment to enhance accessibility at Grays station in Essex has been successfully completed, bringing two new platform lifts that provide step-free access from the main entrance to both platforms.

Team members from Network Rail and c2c Railway met with Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, on 1 September to showcase the new lifts and highlight the difference they make for passengers with reduced mobility. The lifts make it easier and safer to move between platforms, improving overall accessibility and passenger experience.

The project, delivered in collaboration with c2c Railway and carried out by our contractor Octavius, began in January 2024.  We are pleased to confirm that the lifts are now fully operational. These new lifts can carry up to 16 passengers and are the first DLDS VLB (Dual Lift Drive System, Vertical Linear Beam) lifts to be installed anywhere in the UK. They are also evacuation lifts, which means they can be used in emergencies, including during a power failure, another first for the UK rail network.

In addition to the lift installation, c2c Railway has invested £300,000 to upgrade the station’s power supply, subway refurbishment and the evacuation features of the lift. Throughout construction, the station remained open to minimise disruption to passengers.

This upgrade at Grays is part of the government’s Access for All programme, launched in 2006 to improve accessibility across the rail network. The scheme aims to provide step-free access, better signage, and enhanced facilities for passengers with mobility needs.

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said:
“It’s brilliant to see these new lifts installed at Grays station, thanks to Government funding, helping more people use our publicly owned railway, c2c Railway, and travel with confidence and ease.

“Our transport systems should be truly accessible and inclusive, and our Access for All programme is making real change across the country to achieve this.”

Simon Milburn, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said:
“We want our railway to be as inclusive as possible, and Access for All schemes like the new lifts at Grays are helping to open rail travel to more people and make it easier for everyone to travel. I would like to thank passengers for their continued patience while we’ve worked to bring the lifts at Grays station into service."

Rob Mullen, Managing Director of c2c Railway, added:
“The completion of step-free access at Grays station is the result of dedication, hard work and innovative engineering. It’s great that c2c can add another ‘first’ to the UK rail network after making its entire network contactless earlier in the year. I am so pleased we have been able to improve the station experience for all our customers on the Thameside loop and for generations to come.”