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Wednesday 26 Sep 2018

Lift off at Carshalton station as work begins to make it accessible to all

Region & Route:

| Southern

A multi-million pound project to make Carshalton station accessible to all begins next month with the installation of new lifts.

Carshalton station, which serves more than a million passengers a year, is set for the vital makeover so passengers with mobility issues can use the station, rather than travelling to the nearest step-free station in Sutton two miles away.

Hodan Hassan, Network Rail’s sponsor for the project, said: “When the scheme is completed mid-way through next year, train travel from the station will be much easier for everyone, particularly those with mobility issues, the elderly, and parents with young children.

“There will be some impact for passengers, including the temporary closure of parking bays, while we complete the work. So I’d like to thank people in advance for bearing with us while we deliver this much-needed upgrade.”

The work will begin at the end of October and be completed in the summer.

During the work, parking along Station Approach will have to be suspended for safety reasons because construction traffic will need access via the narrow one-way street. Station Approach will also be closed to its junction with West Street to create space for a work site for engineers and equipment.

Southern station manager Gaurav Sachdeva added: “Carshalton offers a good commute and is going to become even more popular with the flats being built at Hackbridge nearby.

“These lifts will be hugely helpful, not only for customers in wheelchairs but also the elderly and mums with buggies.”

Tom Brake, Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington, said: “It is excellent to see that work to make Carshalton Station accessible to all will finally begin at the end of October.

“Once the works are complete it will be considerably easier for disabled passengers, as well as those with buggies, luggage or mobility problems, to make use of our station.”

The improvements are being delivered as part of the Department for Transport funded Access for All programme, which aims to improve step-free access across Britain’s rail network.

Other schemes proposed nearby include Coulsdon South and Selhurst