Media centre

Friday 26 Mar 2021

Passengers thanked as lift upgrade completed at The Hawthorns

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Passengers are being thanked for their patience after lifts at The Hawthorns station reopened following a major overhaul.

Over the last three months both lifts to platforms have been taken out, mechanisms modernised, and new lighting installed.

A total of £450,000 has been invested in the comprehensive lift upgrade.

It’s part of Network Rail and the wider rail industry’s priority to make stations more accessible for everyone.

The improved lifts will benefit passengers when they return once coronavirus travel restrictions can be eased.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, over half a million passengers used the busy West Midlands Railway-operated station in Smethwick each year.

Tom Wadsworth, senior asset engineer at Network Rail, said: “I understand the work on the lifts has been disruptive for passengers over the last few months and I’d like to thank people for bearing with us. I hope the improvements speak for themselves and the more modern, brighter lifts make a real difference to people’s journeys with better more reliable step-free access to platforms.”

Brenda Lawrence, head of stations for West Midlands Railway, said: “Making sure the railway is accessible for all is our top priority and I am delighted our customers at The Hawthorns can now benefit from smarter, upgraded lifts.

“With fewer people currently using the railway this was a good time to make these improvements but I would like to thank our customers who have been making essential journeys during the work for their patience and understanding.”

The lift upgrade programme started in December and from today (26 March) the lifts are now fully reopen for passengers.

The investment forms part of Network Rail’s Central route enhancements programme.

For more information on our commitment to make stations more accessible visit www.networkrail.co.uk/access-for-all