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Monday 18 Sep 2017

More than 12 million passengers to benefit from new lifts and footbridges as plans progress for Access for All improvements across the South East

Region & Route:

| Southern

More than 12m passengers at eight stations across the South East are set to benefit from accessibility improvements, making access between the station entrances and platforms much easier for people with disabilities and reduced mobility, as well as those with children, heavy luggage or shopping.

Network Rail engineers are about to submit planning applications for lifts and other accessibility improvements at:

• Bexley, Carshalton, Coulsdon South, Plumstead, Selhurst, Shortlands – all in Greater London
• Canterbury, Kent
• Crawley, West Sussex

The improvements, which include lifts and footbridges, are being delivered as part of the Access for All programme, which is funded by the Department for Transport and administered by Network Rail, improving step-free access across the railway network. Together they are worth more than £30m.

Network Rail’s route managing director for the South East, John Halsall, said: “These improvements will make travelling by train much easier for people with reduced mobility, people with buggies, bags and bikes, and they will make a real difference to how people get around. Train travel should be for everyone, and while there are historic reasons as to why not all our stations are accessible, we remain focussed on making improvements to as many as we can.

“We’ll now be working closely with local authorities, passengers and neighbours to take these designs and make them a reality.”

Keith Jipps, Infrastructure Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Southern, said:  "We are really pleased with the announcement and commitment from Network Rail to invest in these stations for the benefit of our passengers. It supports our plans to modernise the railway with new infrastructure, trains and working practices. We fully support the projects and have been involved in their development throughout. We look forward to their completion in 2019, as announced."

David Wornham, Passenger Services Director Southeastern, said: “We work closely with Network Rail in ensuring that all passengers can use our station facilities and board our trains quickly and easily. Southeastern also offers various travel and priority seating services to those who are elderly, disabled, using wheelchairs or travelling with small children. We are committed to ensuring that anyone with special access needs can enjoy trouble free journeys with us.”

Network Rail will be submitting designs in the autumn for planning determination by local authorities in 2018. Work will take place once permission has been received and designs are complete, with the schemes intended to be completed over the next two years.