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Friday 18 Jan 2019

Kilmarnock station’s £2.7m access improvement project nears completion

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

The new lifts at Kilmarnock are now in in public use as access improvements at the station near completion.

The £2.7million investment, delivered through the Access for All scheme, provides a step-free access to platforms one, three and four from the existing station underpass via newly installed lifts, which opened on Friday, January 18.

Other works at the station include lowering, regrading and resurfacing the underpass and renewing staircases and handrails to ensure they are appropriate to modern accessibility standards.

Some minor works remain to be completed, including installation of tactile platform studs, and these will be finished in February. 

The Access for All scheme is part of the ongoing investment in Scotland’s Railway and is designed to improve access within stations for people with impaired mobility, travelling with luggage, children, and cycles.

Willie Coffey, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, said: “Kilmarnock station is an important part of the local transport network and I welcome the investment made in this station allowing it to be far more accessible for many more of my constituents.”   

Jeremy Spence, Network Rail programme manager, said: “Rail travel is more popular now than ever before and we are continuously seeking opportunities to make stations and services more accessible. The installation of lifts will transform the station and is a real positive for those going to or from Kilmarnock.”

Bill Reeve, director of rail at Transport Scotland, said: “We want to make rail as accessible as possible to all passengers, including those with mobility impairment, as well as the elderly and parents travelling with young children in prams or buggies. The new step-free access will undoubtedly enhance the overall journey experience for all customers.”

The Access for All programme is funded by the Department of Transport, and Transport Scotland is responsible for managing this fund for Scotland. Stations are selected by Transport Scotland and delivered in partnership with Network Rail who are responsible for the physical completion of the works.