Rail passengers
are set to benefit from easier journeys at stations across the
country after Rail Minister, Norman Baker, approved more than
£37.5m of Government funding to make stations more easily
accessible under a new Access for All Mid-Tier programme. Upgrades
to the stations will include new lifts, ramps and raised “easy
access humps” on platforms as well as new accessible toilets.
Norman Baker said:
"Rail journeys don't start and end at the
carriage door. For many people - whether they are elderly,
disabled or parents with prams - getting from the station entrance
and on to the train can be the hardest part of their trip.
“Despite the need to reduce the deficit, we are committed to
improving access to stations across the country as this can make a
huge difference to people’s lives. In recognition of this, and of
the large number of high quality bids we received for this
funding, we are today announcing projects worth more than double
the £17m budget we originally allocated to this programme."
“We are also adding £2m a year to the current £5m allocated each
year to train operating companies which will be used to fund more
minor works and releasing £57m of funding earlier than planned to
Network Rail so that they can accelerate the delivery of the main
Access for All programme.”
Major improvements will take place at Acocks Green, Aldershot,
Alton, Barry Island, Bearsted, Bexleyheath, Birchwood, Blackhorse
Road, Chirk, Crayford, Crystal Palace, Edmonton Green, Ewell East,
Hackbridge, Hampstead Heath, Kensal Rise, Keynsham, Llandaf,
London Paddington, Machynlleth, Nailsea and Blackwell, Paddock
Wood, Queen's Road Peckham, Radyr, Redhill, Richmond, St.
Austell, St. Neots, South Tottenham, Stratford,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Stevenage, Swindon, Theale, Wakefield
Westgate, Wendover, West Hampstead, Wokingham and Ystrad Mynach
stations. Network Rail will also receive funding to add tactile
edge paving at 27 stations and £5m to provide “easy access humps”
at a number of stations to reduce the stepping distance between
the platform and the train.
The improvements are being funded as part of the Department for
Transport's Access for All scheme which aims to improve
access to railway stations. All work at the stations will be
completed by March 2014.
A further £2m a year for the next three years will also be added
to the existing Access for All small schemes budget. Small Schemes
funding is allocated to each train operator to deliver more minor
access improvements at local stations and this additional funding
restores the budget to its pre-Spending Review level of £7m a
year.
We have also today confirmed that £57m of Access for All funding,
currently allocated to rail Control Period 5, will be brought
forward into the current Control Period. This will allow Network
Rail to deliver accessible routes at 27 stations earlier than
currently planned.
Notes to Editors
A full list of the stations set to benefit from the £37m of new
funding is available on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/access-for-all-mid-tier-funding
Contacts:
DfT Press Office - Rail
Phone: DfT Press Office 020 7944 3108
nds.dft@coi.gsi.gov.uk