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Wednesday 24 Jan 2024

Leatherhead station in south London will soon benefit from two new eight-person capacity lifts and a new footbridge which will make the station fully accessible

Region & Route:

Southern

| Southern: Sussex

Rail users in Surrey will soon benefit from step-free access at Leatherhead station as Network Rail announces accessibility upgrades starting this January.

The £6.2m programme of work will begin on Monday 29 January and is expected to be completed in spring 2025.

Once complete, the station will be fully accessible making it much easier for passengers with limited mobility, visual impairments as well as those travelling with pushchairs and bicycles to make their way around the station.

The project will involve installing two, new eight-person capacity lifts and a new footbridge with staggered staircases (‘Z’ shaped) necessary to avoid station operational equipment on the platform.

Other improvements include refreshing the lighting, adding CCTV and minor alterations to the existing ramp and installing new handrails.

These improvements are funded by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme, which is used to create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms. This generally includes providing lifts or ramps, as well as associated works and refurbishment along the route.

Hodan Hassan, Network Rail’s commercial scheme sponsor, said: “It’s really great to see the investment being made to make stations fully accessible across the Sussex route and we welcome the continued investment from the DfT and continue to work closely with local councils to provide the best experience for all rail users.

“We’d like to reassure passengers and local residents that most of the work will take place over weekdays during daytime hours and will not affect train services during the week.”

Carl Martin, Govia Thameslink Railway's accessibility lead, said: “We’re committed to removing barriers so that our services are easier for everyone to use, so we’re delighted for our passengers that these major improvements are now under way. The new lifts, footbridge and other enhancements will make going to, from and between the platforms a more accessible experience for all our customers here.”