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Tuesday 10 Jan 2012

LONG EATON STATION IMPROVEMENTS

Region & Route:

Passengers at Long Eaton station are to benefit from improved access after Network Rail completes improvements.

The work, which is being funded through the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme, involves installing two new lifts to give step-free access to both platforms. To facilitate the work Erewash Borough Council has sold Network Rail a small piece of land.

Kevin Preece, general manager for Network Rail, said "This project will bring real benefits to passengers – particularly those with luggage, pushchairs or mobility issues. We will be on site at the end of the month and the lifts will be operational in the summer.

“We will do all we can to keep disruption to the minimum throughout.”

Andy Moore, head of stations for East Midlands Trains, said: "We want to make it as easy as possible for people to access our train services, and we're currently investing more than £40 million to improve our stations and trains. We're therefore pleased to be working with Network Rail to deliver these improvements for passengers at Long Eaton."

Councillor Geoff Smith, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Planning and Regeneration, added: “We are delighted at the news that lifts are to be installed - a move that will make Long Eaton Station fully and easily accessible for all residents and visitors to Erewash. We have worked with Network Rail and, while there will be some disruption in our car park during the work, I am sure this will be kept to a minimum and there will be plenty of parking space for rail travellers.”