Work to improve accessibility at Mills Hill railway station has entered a new phase.
The multi-million-pound upgrade involves installing a new ramp and lift to provide step-free access at the station in Greater Manchester
Starting this week, access to both of the platforms at the station will be from the Rochdale-bound side where a new staircase has been built.
Passengers are asked to allow more time for their journeys as work on the ramp now gets underway. The work at the station has taken longer than originally planned due to engineering issues and the Coronavirus pandemic.
Part of the Great North Rail Project and the Government's ‘Access for All' scheme, the scheme should see the lift in use on the Rochdale-bound platform by the end of the year.
Simon Smith, sponsor for Network Rail, said: “We are sorry to passengers that our accessibility upgrade at Mills Hill station to provide step-free access to both platforms is taking longer than hoped. Unforeseen drainage complications on Oldham Road and the impact of the coronavirus lockdown have caused the delay.
“We thank station users for their patience while we work as fast as we can with the highways team at Oldham Council to complete all of the work so the new lift can be operational by the end of this year.”
Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “We are absolutely committed to making the Northern network as accessible and as welcoming as possible for all our customers.
“The improvements being made at Mills Hill will, when complete, give customers with special mobility needs much-improved access to the rail network and, in-turn, so many fantastic destinations across the north of England.
“I'd like to thank our customers for their ongoing patience whilst the work is being carried out and ask them to bear with us a little longer while Network Rail completes this vitally important upgrade.”
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It should get the go ahead. Stations that aren’t step-free should be step-free.
Should make the station lot more disabled friendly and easier. I like the design of it. Possibly Marks Tey station should be step-free with a new footbridge with lifts linking platforms 2 & 3.