Mystery surrounds progress – or lack of it – to install long-awaited passenger lifts at a West Yorkshire rail station. Residents near Todmorden Rail Station say no work seems to have been done on the project – key to making the station more accessible for disabled passengers – for more than a year, despite pledges.
Where’s our lift?
And recently notices have started appearing pinned up around the town saying: “where’s our lift in Todmorden station?”
The rail company which is senior partner is the scheme, Northern, is promising to get things moving again soon.
Lifts serving both platforms are set to be installed by next spring, but despite work areas being fenced off, and traffic lights in place outside the station, there is no evidence of anything happening, residents have reported.
Access for all
The Halifax, Bradford and Leeds-bound Platform Two at Todmorden Rail Station has only been accessible by an underpass and steps for many years. The Rochdale and Manchester bound Platform One does have single level entry but from the car park, which itself has a sloped access.
Department of Transport ‘access for all’ funding was secured for the project four years ago, for lifts to serve both platforms.
In the spring, resident, business leader and former councillor Clare Townley contacted the Input Group, Northern Rail’s contractors for the site, and team members met with her for an update on what was going on and explain the delay. They told Townley that there are two projects to improve accessibility and passengers’ journey experience – lifts and the installation of an accessible toilet, as well as some new station furniture – with some project funding by Network Rail and Northern Trains.
With a site compound set up, the companies would soon be re-mobilising on site, delay – six months at that point, six months ago – caused by a pause in work to allow the companies to review and improve construction practices, impacting on design approvals.
Keeping customers updated
Contractors promised residents and others concerned updates, but since then they have heard nothing.
A Northern spokesperson acknowledged people were concerned by the delays and promised better communication as to what was happening.
“Concerns have been raised about delays affecting construction work that is being delivered by a third-party contractor at Todmorden station. We realise this is an important project and we’re doing everything we can to get things moving again.
“We will keep customers updated going forward.”
