Disability access to arrive at Chippenham rail station

People with reduced mobility and those using pushchairs have been waiting years for promised easier access to railway platforms in the town. Network Rail says it will be provided by spring 2015.

For the first time people will have a step-free route from the station’s main entrance to the platforms without any need for staff assistance.

Wiltshire Council planners gave Network Rail permission one year ago to replace the footbridge that crosses the railway at the west end, and put in two lifts giving access to platforms from the Cocklebury Road side.

Maureen Lloyd, of the Community Access to Rail Travel group, said: “It is just wonderful, I shall be on cloud nine from here on in.

“I was beginning to think it was never going to happen. Sue Houlihan and I were champing at the bit making a nuisance of ourselves. There is a large number of people who cannot use the station.

“A lady in Chippenham I spoke to this week, who has arthritic knees, said she hasn’t used a train for 23 years. She always gets off at Bath and takes the bus from there because she doesn’t want to be embarrassed having to ask for help.”

Work was expected to start in August but First Great Western said: “The delayed start is as a result of a delay in finalising the detailed design, which had to be sympathetically undertaken as a result of the listed station status.”

The £2.98m project has been partly funded through the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme.

Joanna Grew, Network Rail’s project sponsor for the scheme, said: “We are working closely with First Great Western to make sure that this work is completed with minimal disruption to passengers and that a normal train service continues to operate throughout.”

Network Rail said it does not have funding for a lift on the Homebase side but hopes third party funding will become available in the future. The station footbridge at the east end will not be changed.