Work has started on building a new footbridge and installing lifts to make Royston station in Hertfordshire more accessible for passengers.

In a multi-million-pound project, during the coming months, as well as constructing a new footbridge, Network Rail engineers will install lifts on each platform to create a step-free route for people with limited mobility, families with pushchairs, and cyclists so that they are fully accessible for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use it each year.

Once complete, the new footbridge and lifts will enable Thameslink and Great Northern passengers to switch platforms quickly and easily.

The old bridge will be demolished before engineers lift the new structure and lift shafts into place early next year. Once the works are complete and have been commissioned, they will open for passengers next summer so that everyone can access Royston’s rail connections with London, Cambridge, and Brighton.

The new footbridge and lifts were originally due to open in early 2023 but have faced delays because of the problems currently facing all construction projects.

Jonny Ham, Lead Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, said: “It’s great to see the new bridge finally starting the construction phase. Making the station more accessible will make a huge difference for thousands of passengers and help more people to travel by train with confidence.

“People will start to see changes happening around the station, so I’d like to thank them for their patience and hope they look forward to using a brand-new accessible bridge and lifts next summer.”

Tom Moran, Managing Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “This is really great news for our customers at Royston and will open up the railway at this station to so many more people. Big projects such as this are a crucial part of our drive to create a more accessible and inclusive railway, where everyone has the confidence to travel no matter what their need for assistance.”