UK Rail Invests Over £24 Million to Upgrade 5 Stations

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 30, Network Rail, the UK's national railway infrastructure company, announced progress on accessibility upgrades at five railway stations in western England, with a total project investment exceeding £24 million, covering Weston-super-Mare, Lostwithiel, Castle Cary, Cheltenham and Torquay stations. The works include new footbridges, lift installations, accessible ramps, and upgrades to waiting and passenger service facilities, with some projects already under construction.

At Weston-super-Mare station, two lifts are being installed on the Grade II listed historic footbridge that opened in 1884. Once completed, the project will enable step-free access between platforms for the first time. The two lifts are expected to enter service in autumn 2027. Network Rail plans to hold a public consultation event at the local area on November 4.

At Lostwithiel station on the Cornish main line, a permanent railway footbridge is under construction, scheduled to open in summer 2027, replacing the temporary footbridge installed in 2024. The new footbridge will connect both platforms and provide pedestrians with a route avoiding the Grenville Road level crossing. The crossing barriers are closed for up to 22 minutes per hour.

Castle Cary station plans to add an accessible footbridge and lifts, with construction expected to begin after the 2027 Glastonbury Festival. The station will continue to handle large passenger volumes during the June 2027 festival period.

Cheltenham station plans to install a lift on the northbound platform and build an accessible ramp for the southbound platform. The lift is expected to enter service in spring 2028.

Torquay station is progressing with upgrades to inter-platform access facilities, including a 13-metre accessible ramp via Hennapyn Road, a new waiting room and accessible toilet on the northbound platform, and adjustments to accessible parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas. The works are part of the UK Government's Access for All railway accessibility improvement programme and are expected to be completed in spring 2027.