Today (10 February), MP Nusrat Ghani joined Network Rail, Southern and contractors BAM Nuttall to celebrate the official opening of Crowborough station’s £4.7m lifts and footbridge.
At the event, the local community enjoyed some freshly baked cinnamon buns from ScandiBakes Bakery and locally sourced apple juice from Laurel Tree Farm which added a refreshing touch.
The investment funded from the Department for Transport (DfT) aims to improve accessibility between platforms within the station with the installation of two lifts and a brand-new footbridge to allowing passengers to easily get from one platform to another.
Alongside the lift installation, new tactile paving on both platforms has been installed along the edge of the platforms at Crowborough station to improve accessibility for people with a visual impairment.
Kate Warner, Network Rail’s director for route sponsorship, said: “We’re really grateful for the continued funding from the DfT which helps make our stations more accessible for passengers to navigate around safely.
“Putting passengers first is at the heart of what we do and we’re always looking for more ways to improve their experience.”
Additional CCTV cameras have also been installed which aim to keep passengers safe when using the station.
MP Nusrat Ghani, said: “I am delighted to celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished Crowborough train station today. Train travel is a key form of transport for Wealden residents, and I am pleased to have secured this multi-million-pound funding to ensure that both Crowborough and Eridge train stations are now fully step free, accessible to all Wealden commuters and fit for the future. A huge thank you to all the contractors and volunteers involved in delivering this project for Crowborough. It is fantastic that Wealden train stations are benefiting from this major investment programme from the Department of Transport, greatly improving the overall passenger experience for many Wealden residents using the line to commute to London, or those visiting the Spa Valley Railway.”
Sharon Gray, South East Community Rail Partnership’s community rail officer, said: “We are really excited to see that equal access to travel has arrived at Crowborough station, a true example of levelling up and equality. The installation of the lifts and the covered footbridge have removed the barriers to travel for all members of the local community. No more worrying about the amount of steps or crossing the windy footbridge in the rain. Congratulations Network Rail on a job well done.”
Stephen MacCallaugh, Southern’s head of stations, said: “Step-free access to Crowborough’s platforms has made a huge difference, transforming the experience of travelling by rail for many local people. This is another great example of the rail industry working with local communities to provide access for all, removing barriers to make our services easier to use for everyone.”
Alan Cox, BAM Nuttall’s managing director regions and transport, said: "At BAM we’re committed to enhancing peoples’ lives through the work we do. That’s why these Access for All schemes are so important to us. They open up train travel to many people who previously would not have been able to use the rail network. We’re proud to contribute, supporting our Client Network Rail, to making the railway more accessible and making travelling by train a more positive experience."
The original article is available here.
