As part of a £5.75 million investment by Transport for Greater Manchester, two new lifts have been installed on Irlam station.

The investment aims to provide easy step-free access to the station to help boost visitors.

A few days ago, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Salford’s Statutory Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, accessibility campaigners, and the Hamilton Davies Trust attended.

The full investment came from the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme in collaboration with surrounding networks.

Those who use a wheelchair, have limited mobility or have extra luggage can now use the station much more easily.

Greater Manchester are trying to double the number of step-free stations compared to previous years, with their last project being Daisy Hill.

Less than half the stations in the region are accessible, with the funding from the Department for Transport and City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), 63% of stations in Greater Manchester will be step-free by March 2028.

Future step-free projects include Swinton, Hindley, Reddish North, and Bryn, which are scheduled for next year.

“It’s great to see these new lifts operating at Irlam just weeks after the official opening of the step-free scheme at Daisy Hill.

“We are now beginning to deliver accessibility improvements at stations across Greater Manchester at a much greater pace than in the preceding decades, as we strive to deliver a more inclusive and accessible public transport network.

“The installation of step-free schemes at stations across our city region is key to our vision for the Bee Network as a fully joined-up public transport network, allowing people to make seamless journeys between trains, buses, trams and active travel.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham