BAM brings historic station into 21st century by creating access for all
BAM brings historic station into 21st century by creating access for all
BAM’s project for Network Rail to build a new accessible footbridge at St Erth station in West Cornwall has reached a milestone with the installation of two lift shafts. When complete this winter, the grade II-listed station will become fully accessible for the first time since it was built in 1852.
The work, part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme, continues Network Rail’s investment on the iconic St Ives branch line, which carries a million passengers a year. With recent research by the Department for Work & Pensions, Disability Unit and Equality Hub suggesting that only a fifth of stations in Great Britain have step-free access to all platforms, these improvements are critical and will ensure more people can use public transport to access healthcare, education, shopping and explore the area.
The lift shafts, weighing 12 and 10 tonnes each, were lifted into place by a 350-tonne crane, on a Saturday night, after trains had stopped running, to avoid disruption for passengers. BAM also installed two steel supports for the new footbridge.
The next major stage of work will see the bridge deck lifted into place and the current footbridge carefully dismantled and rebuilt at Cranmore station on the East Somerset Railway – a heritage steam railway.
Yan Sayles, senior project manager at BAM, said:
“Installing the lift shafts here at St Erth station brings us one step closer to making the station accessible for all.
“BAM is working in close partnership with Network Rail, carefully planning the work, to avoid disruption for passengers and minimise the impact on local residents.”
Alina Wolfe Murray, Network Rail senior sponsor, said: “It’s exciting to see a major stage of the project successfully completed and we’d like to thank local residents and passengers for their patience. We have planned our work to cause as little disruption as possible, especially during the busy summer months.
“When complete, more people than ever will be able to use the railway and passengers will be able to get around St Erth station much more easily.”
Richard Williams-Pears, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport, said: “We are committed to ensuring that Cornwall is accessible to everyone who is living, visiting or working in the Duchy.
“The improvements to this key interchange are very good news for residents, commuters and visitors and mean that even more people can use public transport to travel to work, and for health, education, shopping and leisure.
“It means less reliance on the car in the shift towards more sustainable transport with better integrated rail and bus facilities.”
Sharon Holloway, GWR West Cornwall station manager, said: “We’re delighted this planned work for St Erth station has begun. We are absolutely committed to improving access to the full range of services the railway can offer.
“This work, once complete, will make the station fully accessible for the first time in its history, adding massive benefits to the local economy, and the community of St Erth and the surrounding area.
“The station is extremely well used and the lifts will enhance our customers’ experience as they embark on another GWR adventure.”
