Monday 21 Sep 2026
Southend East accessibility upgrades reach key milestone
- Region & Route:
- Eastern: Anglia
GBR Anglia's plans to improve accessibility at Southend East station took a major step forward over the weekend with major sections of the future accessible footbridge and lifts installed at the station
As part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme, GBR Anglia and its contractor Octavius, is installing two new lifts and an accessible footbridge at the station, which will make it easier for passengers with mobility needs, as well as those travelling with luggage, pushchairs or other accessibility requirements, to move around the station.
With teams working around the clock, a large crane was used to lift large concrete and steel sections into place to safely install the structures that will support the future footbridge and lifts. This marks a significant step forward in the transformation of Southend East, with the station’s accessibility improvements now beginning to take visible shape.
Work can now progress towards the next stages of construction to fit out the new footbridge and install the operation lift equipment inside the lift shafts before starting the testing and commissioning phase. Subject to successful testing, safety checks and authorisation, these accessibility improvements are anticipated to be brought into public use in spring 2027.
GBR Anglia brings c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia together under one unified leadership team, aligning track and train more closely for a more joined-up railway delivering better customer journeys across the region.
Joe Kennedy, infrastructure director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “This is an important milestone for Southend East and a clear sign that our plans to improve accessibility at the station are taking shape.
"Installing these large sections of concrete and steel was a significant operation, and I’d like to thank our teams for their hard work in delivering it safely.
“We also appreciate the patience of our customers and local community while this work has been carried out which will make a real difference to everyone using the station when completed next year.”
Work also progressed at Chalkwell station while trains were not running to install piled foundations that will support the new access for all footbridge and the lift shaft structures.
#SouthendEastAFA
#ChalkwellAFA
Notes to Editors
- Access for All is a Government scheme to provide better access to the UK’s railway network, allowing all passengers to travel easily and confidently.
- Southend East is one of a number of stations across the Anglia route benefiting from the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme, which is designed to improve accessibility across the railway.
- More information can be found by visiting the Anglia Access for All project webpage.
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