Media centre

Wednesday 12 Nov 2008

NEW LIFTS AT HASLEMERE STATION PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

New passenger lifts at Haslemere station are now making access much easier for everyone, particularly for people with reduced mobility.

The £2.7m access improvement project, managed by Network Rail and funded under the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme, involved the construction of a new footbridge, complete with two new lifts and stairs, providing a step-free route from the platforms to the ticket hall and station entrance. Each lift accommodates up to 16 people, is fully Disability Discrimination Act - compliant and fitted with closed circuit television and telephone links.

Lord Adonis, minister of state for transport, commented: "We want to encourage more people to travel by train, which is why the Government is committed to making the rail network accessible to everyone. I'm delighted our Railways for All fund has helped improve access at Haslemere station, making travel easier for people with reduced mobility."

Richard O’Brien, Network Rail route director, said: “Haslemere is a key station for London bound commuters and over the past few years there has been a steady increase in passengers using this station.

“It is important that it caters for this growth and provides access for all, particularly for those people with reduced mobility or parents with prams. The new footbridge will deliver these benefits.”

Paul Bentley, access and integration manager for South West Trains, said: “This is fantastic news for the £1.5m passengers who use Haslemere station each year. It is part of our ongoing commitment to making rail travel simpler and more accessible for disabled passengers and will make a real difference to people using the station.”

Haslemere station is in the initial group of stations selected under the Government’s Access for All scheme. Other stations in the South West Trains area that have already benefited from Access for All improvements are Weybridge (completed in 2007) and Kingston (completed in August 2008). West Byfleet and Bracknell are close to completion while work started earlier this year at Clapham Junction.