Station upgrades will 'make significant improvement'

8:44am Tuesday 5th February 2008

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Elstree & Borehamwood station is set to be upgraded to make rail travel more accessible for disabled and elderly passengers as part of plans announced by the Government.

Among the improvements will be step-free access to the Station Road building, better lighting, new timetable screens and improved facilities for people who use hearing aids.

It is one of 40 stations to benefit from the Department for Transport's Access for All project, which will see £370 million spent on creating obstacle-free paths and routes around travel terminals.

Engineers from Network Rail will carry out work at the station during the next 18 months to determine exactly what changes need to be made, before beginning construction work.

The upgrades are due to be completed between 2012 and 2015.

Borehamwood Brookmeadow ward councillor Ian Feeney said: "Access has always been a major problem for this station. Cost seems to have been the main issue and argument used for not resolving this.

"To date, rail companies have been reluctant to grasp the nettle and now the Government has thankfully stepped in.

"This will be good news for Borehamwood and I hope the upgrade will improve the station's facilities and address the long overdue needs of the disabled, elderly and people with buggies, who should have the same rights and enjoy the equivalent freedom of travel that the rest of us take for granted."

Speaking last Thursday, Rail Minister Tom Harris said: "More people than ever before are taking the train, but for some it can be like facing an obstacle course.

"I'm happy to announce this latest tranche of stations to receive Access for All funding, which will make a significant improvement to people's journeys."

Robin Gisby, Network Rail director of operations and customer services, said: "These essential new facilities will make station and platform access much easier for existing and new passengers, particularly people with disabilities, those carrying heavy luggage and parents with prams.

"Our dedicated project team will conduct feasibility studies to identify the improvements necessary to provide level access."