Planning application for lifts submitted (From Borehamwood Times)

Network Rail submit planning application for lifts at Elstree & Borehamwood station

1:00pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News By Anna Slater

Network Rail has put in a planning application to build a new footbridge at Elstree & Borehamwood station - seven months after work was due to begin.

The train firm submitted the application to Hertsmere Borough Council this week, but a result on whether it has been approved could take another eight weeks. 

The £3,500,000 upgrade, which includes a new footbridge and three lifts, has been funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All Program.

Bosses promised to start building the new lifts at the station in Shenley Road in September last year - but problems with where to put the crane meant work had to be pushed back.

Network Rail first agreed to the lifts after Benjamin Marks, 20, was initially banned from boarding a train before a day trip to see the Olympics, as his wheelchair “posed health and safety problems.”

At the time, his mother, Erica Marks, of Beechwood Drive in Borehamwood, said: “It was like being punched in the face. In an ideal world, this station would be more disabled friendly.”

After the Borehamwood & Elstree Times brought the story to the attention of First Capital Connect and Network Rail, both firms promised step-free access would be built at the station.

Larry Heyman, First Capital Connect’s integration and partnership manager, said: “It had been on the cards for a long time, but hearing about this inspired me to find out what is going on.”

Step free access is currently only available at Elstree & Borehamwood station on the London bound platform, platform one.

Commuters in wheelchairs or with prams returning from London currently have to travel to St Albans and take a train back towards London to get off on platform one at Elstree & Borehamwood.

After the decision to build the lifts was announced, mother-of-four Mrs Marks said: “It really will be life changing to our family.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen, but it is great it has been made a priority.”