New lifts will be 'life changing' (From Borehamwood Times)

New lifts at Elstree & Borehamwood station will be 'life changing'

12:20pm Tuesday 28th August 2012 in News By Anna Slater

New lifts to help disabled people at Elstree & Borehamwood station will be “life changing”, says the mother of a wheelchair user.

Last week, it was announced that First Capital Connect are to install four new lifts in the Shenley Road station.

The news comes after Benjamin Marks, 20, who uses a wheelchair, was initially denied access onto a train at the station for “health and safety” reasons.

His mother, Erica Marks, says her and her husband, David, and their three other children are “delighted” about the news.

“This will give us a type of freedom we have never had on public transport before so I am really thrilled. It is going to make our day to day life much more straightforward.

“It means we can do what everyone else does – get on the train and go – instead of worrying about Benjamin and his wheelchair.

“It is long overdue but it was always out of our control. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would happen but it is great First Capital Connect have made it a priority.

“It will literally be life changing to our family.

“I am so happy this is happening, it will also help people returning from airports with luggage and mothers with prams.”

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

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

Annabelle Waterfield, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Association of Disabled people, says the new lifts will be a “massive advantage” to disabled people.

She added: “There are very few stations in Hertfordshire that are accessible for disabled people, so this will help so many gain a bit more independence.

“It really is wonderful. Anything that improves station accessibility is going to help disabled people, so this is just fantastic.”

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

Work is set to start in September 2012, and should be finished by June 2013.