Crowborough station in East Sussex saw the official opening of its lifts and new footbridge following a £4.7m accessibility improvement project on the 10th of February.

The celebratory event saw the local community joined by MP Nusrat Ghani, Network Rail, Southern and contractors BAM Nuttall, all of whom enjoyed freshly baked cinnamon buns by ScandiBakes Bakery and local apple juice from Laurel Tree Farm.

The Department has funded the project for Transport in a bid to bring improvements in accessibility between platforms with the installation of two lifts and a brand new footbridge which now allow passengers to move from one platform to another with greater ease.

Further work completed as part of the project includes new tactile paving which has been in stalled on the edge of both platforms at the station and will support people with visual impairment.

Kate Warner, Network Rail’s director for route sponsorship, said: “We’re really grateful for the continued funding from the DfT which helps make our stations more accessible for passengers to navigate around safely.

“Putting passengers first is at the heart of what we do and we’re always looking for more ways to improve their experience.”

Additional CCTV cameras have also been installed which aim to keep passengers safe when using the station.

MP Nusrat Ghani, said: “I am delighted to celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished Crowborough train station today. Train travel is a key form of transport for Wealden residents, and I am pleased to have secured this multi-million-pound funding to ensure that both Crowborough and Eridge train stations are now fully step-free, accessible to all Wealden commuters and fit for the future. A huge thank you to all the contractors and volunteers involved in delivering this project for Crowborough. It is fantastic that Wealden train stations are benefiting from this major investment programme from the Department of Transport, greatly improving the overall passenger experience for many Wealden residents using the line to commute to London, or those visiting the Spa Valley Railway.”

Sharon Gray, South East Community Rail Partnership‘s community rail officer, said: “We are really excited to see that equal access to travel has arrived at Crowborough station, a true example of levelling up and equality. The installation of the lifts and the covered footbridge have removed the barriers to travel for all members of the local community. No more worrying about the amount of steps or crossing the windy footbridge in the rain. Congratulations Network Rail on a job well done.”

Stephen MacCallaugh, Southern’s head of stations, said: “Step-free access to Crowborough’s platforms has made a huge difference, transforming the experience of travelling by rail for many local people. This is another great example of the rail industry working with local communities to provide access for all, removing barriers to make our services easier to use for everyone.”

Alan Cox, BAM Nuttall’s managing director regions and transport said: “At BAM we’re committed to enhancing people’s lives through the work we do. That’s why these Access for All schemes are so important to us. They open up train travel to many people who previously would not have been able to use the rail network. We’re proud to contribute, supporting our Client Network Rail, to making the railway more accessible and making travelling by train a more positive experience.”