Transport for Greater Manchester to deliver upgrades at 10 stations over the next three years – twice as many as the past decade
Would make nearly two-thirds of all Greater Manchester rail stations accessible by 2028 – up from 43% currently
Better and more accessible stations key to enabling growth and improving services
Work to build a more inclusive and accessible rail network in Greater Manchester will see twice as many rail stations becoming step-free in the next three years than in the preceding decade.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has today signed off £34m for improvements to rail stations across the city region ahead of eight lines being brought into the Bee Network by 2028.
This includes money for accessibility improvements at Levenshulme and detailed designs to be done for step-free access at Davenport (Stockport), Hall i’th Wood (Bolton), Moorside (Swinton) and Woodsmoor (Stockport) so that, when further funding is secured, works can quickly get under way.
Currently fewer than half of Greater Manchester’s stepped stations (43%) are accessible.
Using funding from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and the DfT’s Access for All scheme, a rolling programme of upgrades will result in 63% of Greater Manchester becoming fully accessible by March 2028.
Compared to the previous decade – where only a handful of stations were made accessible – this represents a significant step change and is all part of the joined-up, step-by-step plan to integrate rail into the Bee Network, alongside bus and tram and active travel.
Work to install lifts at Daisy Hill and Irlam is due to complete this spring, while step-free access schemes at Swinton, Hindley, Bryn and Reddish North are all scheduled for delivery next year.
Accessibility improvements at Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde and Bredbury are set for completion in 2027, with Levenshulme to follow in 2028.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“It’s really important that anyone can use the Bee Network, regardless of how, where or when they are travelling.
“At the moment too many train stations in Greater Manchester are inaccessible, but we are moving at pace to tackle this alongside industry partners under phase two of the Bee Network – and our plans to improve rail services and stations across the city-region.
“Disability or mobility issues should never be a barrier to travel, and in the next three years we will deliver step-free access at ten stations – twice as many as in the past decade – and I am pleased that Levenshulme will be amongst them. “
Greater Manchester is bringing eight commuter rail lines, covering 64 stations, into the Bee Network in three phases, delivering major improvements to stations, services and passenger experience.
The desire to drive these changes in Greater Manchester is a collective effort by the Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, Government and local campaigners, which has been widely welcomed.
In November the Bee Network Committee appointed Cllr Tracey Rawlins as its first ever Disability Advocate as part of its commitment to delivering and inclusive and accessible public transport and active travel network.
Cllr Tracey Rawlins, Disability Advocate on the Bee Network Committee, said:
“I am delighted that this funding will deliver step-free access at Levenshulme and pave the way for accessibility improvements at a further four stations in Greater Manchester. There have been a lot of people involved in this project including local ward members who have tirelessly campaigned for greater access for everyone travelling on our rail network.
“It is vital that people with disabilities can make seamless journeys across all modes and do not experience barriers to travel because the infrastructure is not there to support them.
“Together with our government-funded Access for All programme and work by Network Rail and other partners, we are making real progress towards our ambition for every rail station in the city region to be step-free by 2030.”
Accessibility campaigner Nathaniel Yates has also been praised by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham for his tireless work around accessibility and inclusion, and helping leaders understand how to best improve public transport for everyone.
Nathaniel, added:
“I’m absolutely delighted Levenshulme is getting this money. It’s the second most popular station in Greater Manchester and this is a big step in the right direction. I have been campaigning on it for a while now, and to see money being made available for this – and for developing schemes at four other stations – is big progress.”
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