£5.7 million will be spent on works at Irlam Station this spring to improve the current accessibility for disabled people.
Two new passenger lifts are to be installed to provide step-free access to and from platforms 1 and 2.
The works are expected to begin in early March 2024 and will be completed by the end of January 2025.
Some parking spaces will be reduced during this time as certain areas of the station car park will be used as a compound for site welfare facilities equipment.
Rail UK has warned that some noise is expected during construction because of the machinery however “this will be kept to a minimum where possible.”
As part of the overall £10m upgrade plans being delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), a passenger lift will also be installed at Daisy Hill in Bolton to provide step-free access to and from the platform. Furthermore, there will be improvements to the station’s accessible car parking facilities, as part of a £4 million investment.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Our rail stations, and our wider public transport system, should be accessible to everyone.
“There should be no barrier to anyone using trains to reach their destination or connecting to Metrolink or bus services for the next leg of their journey.
“These two schemes will bring much needed accessibility improvements for passengers at Daisy Hill and Irlam – and a welcome step towards our ambition for every station in Greater Manchester being accessible to people with disabilities as well as those with prams, pushchairs and heavy luggage.”
The improvements are being funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme and the GMCA.
Since 2019, TfGM has secured funding to deliver Access for All schemes at seven Greater Manchester stations most in need of step-free access. These are currently in development and due to be delivered between 2025-2026.
To find out more about the works at Irlam Station click here.
Featured image of Irlam Station, taken/ owned by Steve Knight, Flickr.
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