South Western Railway (SWR) is spending £335k over the course of the financial year to improve station accessibility for passengers across its network.
The Minor Works fund is dedicated investment for small-scale alterations or changes to stations that can make a simple yet big difference to customers with accessibility issues. Over the course of the franchise, SWR’s fund is expected to invest £2.4 million in projects.
Improving station accessibility can mean installing step-free access to ticket offices and waiting rooms, tactile steps to help the visually-impaired, as well as new Blue Badge parking bays, drop-kerbs and bollards to ensure walking areas are not blocked. These measures help create a better travelling experience by allowing passengers with accessibility issues to get around stations on the network quickly, easily and most importantly, safely.
Some of the stations which are expected to see improvements from SWR’s Minor Works fund by March 2020:
| Station |
Improvements |
| Bookham |
Improve step-free access to the booking hall
Improve the access route to the station through the car park
Provide a drop kerb within the station forecourt |
| Brookwood |
Improve the access route to the station through the car park
Provide a drop kerb within the station forecourt
Repaint Blue Badge parking bays |
| Cobham |
Improve step-free access to the booking hall
Improve the access route to the station through the car park
|
| Horsley |
Improve step-free access to the booking hall
Remove bollards preventing station access
Provide designated Blue Badge parking bays |
| Malden Manor |
Improve step-free access to the booking hall
Repaint Blue Badge parking bays |
| Mortlake |
Improve step-free access around the station
Provide a drop kerb within the station forecourt |
| Sherborne |
Improve step-free access to the waiting room |
| Strawberry Hill |
Improve step-free access to the waiting room
Undertake improvements to the existing ramp in the booking hall |
| Totton |
Create an accessible dropoff point in the station forecourt
Provide a drop kerb in the station forecourt
Install bollards to prevent access routes from being blocked
Install handrails to the existing ramp in the station forecourt |
| Wareham |
Improve step-free access to the booking hall
Provide a drop kerb in the station forecourt |
| Woolston |
Improve step-free access to the booking hall
Provide a drop kerb in the station forecourt
Improve platform entrance into the waiting room to be more accessible |
| Worcester Park |
Improve step-free access from the car park and station forecourt |
Michael Adlington, South Western Railway's Accessibility and Inclusion Manager, said:
"Small station improvements can make a big difference to peoples’ lives by helping passengers travel with confidence and to connect with their friends, family and work.
"Over the course of the franchise we are committed to delivering a better travel experience for the communities we serve by improving station accessibility across our network."
