New lifts to be built at station this month (From Borehamwood Times)

First Capital Connect due to start work on Elstree & Borehamwood station lifts this month

1:10pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Anna Cotton

After a seven-month delay, work to build new lifts at Elstree & Borehamwood station will start this month.

First Capital Connect promised to build step-free access at the station last September, but problems with where to put the crane meant the start date was changed to March 2013. 

The £2.8m project, which will be finished by the end of the year, will also see the creation of extra disabled parking spaces closer to the station.

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail route managing director, said: “These new improvements will make a big difference to passengers, especially those with reduced mobility or kids.

“They are part of our plans to build a bigger, better railway. The new lifts and footbridge will better meet the needs of passengers.”

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

Network Rail agreed to build the lifts after Benjamin Marks was initially banned from boarding a train because he is in a wheelchair.

Bosses said they were “inspired” by the 20-year-olds story after his mum slammed the lack of step-free access at the Shenley Road station.

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.”