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Friday 6 Dec 2024

Port Glasgow access for all – one year on

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail revisited Port Glasgow station to mark the first anniversary of the £5m accessibility upgrade.

Two new lifts and a footbridge were officially opened at a ceremony last December, celebrating the year-long project to provide step-free access to both platforms and transform the station entrance.

The upgrades were part of the Access for All scheme, designed to improve access within stations for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children, or bicycles.

Since its opening, the lifts have made nearly 100,000 trips, with the platform 1 lift making an average of 3000 trips per month.

The lift on platform 2, which provides station users with a safe step-free route between platforms and up to Highholm Avenue park and ride car park, has averaged 4000 trips per month.

During their visit, the Network Rail project team caught up with  station staff and members of Port Glasgow West community council, who campaigned for the station to be made more accessible for years.

Our team heard about the benefits the upgrades have brought for passengers living in and visiting Port Glasgow which they say have 'put a lot of the heart back into the town'.

Laura Craig, Network Rail's scheme project manager for the project said: “It’s been fantastic to return to Port Glasgow to see and hear about the lasting impact of our work.

“While our primary focus was on improving accessibility, the project went further by adding new signage, lighting, and fencing, making the station a more welcoming space for everyone.

“One year on, the lifts are averaging nearly 250 trips a day, a clear sign of how much easier it is for passengers to navigate the station.

“Combined with the additional services introduced in ScotRail’s June timetable for Inverclyde, Port Glasgow is a great example of Scotland’s Railway coming together to make rail travel more accessible and convenient for all.”

Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, said: “We are absolutely committed to providing the best possible journey experience for our customers, and it is fantastic to see the positive impact the work at Port Glasgow has had.

“Everyone across Scotland’s Railway is focussed on making sure that all rail users have equal access to travel, and these improvements help to deliver that.”