Accessibility at Port Glasgow station in Inverclyde is to be improved thanks to a new footbridge and lifts that are to be installed as part of a £5m project that will start next month.

To improve access to Port Glasgow station platforms for people with impaired mobility, or travelling with luggage, children, or cycles, Network Rail and its main contractor Story Contracting will install a new footbridge and lifts and construct an uncovered ramped access to the station’s main entrance in Princes Street.

The new footbridge will be located opposite the car park, and the uncovered ramped access will be off Willison’s Lane with two accesses to the park-and-ride car park in Highhole Avenue. The lifts will provide step-free access to Gourock bound platform and the park-and-ride car park.

Preparatory work will start in February but the main part of the project will begin in May, with completion scheduled towards the end of this year.

Before the work starts, Network Rail will hold a public information session at Port Glasgow West Community Council’s next public meeting, to be held in Port Glasgow Town Hall at 7pm next Monday, 30th January.

The project is part of an Access for All programme that started in 2006 and so far has funded improvements at 27 Scottish stations. Improvements to Johnstone and Croy stations were completed last year, and future accessibility improvements are in development for Anniesland, Uddingston, and Dumfries stations.

Access for All is a rolling programme of investment designed to improve access within stations for people with impaired mobility.

Michael McArthur, Network Rail’s project manager for the accessibility work, said:

“The bridge being built at the station delivers modern standards of access for those travelling to or from Port Glasgow on a day-to-day basis and will improve the travelling experience for passengers.

“The new bridge and lifts will help everyone in the community access services at Port Glasgow station easily as part of our efforts to enable even more people to travel by train.

“Delivering step-free access at stations to open up our network is one important way in which we are improving the overall experience of travelling on Scotland’s railway”.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said:

“This is an important development to help make Port Glasgow Railway Station more accessible, particularly for wheelchair users, people with mobility issues, and families with prams.

“It is the busiest railway station in Inverclyde so should be fit for purpose for everyone who uses it, whether that is commuters or visitors arriving here to discover what Port Glasgow and Inverclyde has to offer.

“I’m delighted that the council is working alongside Network Rail and partners to deliver this substantial infrastructure project that will be of huge benefit to the people of Port Glasgow and wider Inverclyde.”

Tommy Rodger, secretary of Port Glasgow West Community Council, said:

“On behalf of people with mobility challenges, our Port Glasgow West Community Council welcomes Network Rail’s plans to build a bridge that will provide access to both platforms within the station for all passengers.”