Station access bid is finally on track

Sucessful campaign to have a disabled ramp installed at Alfreton Train Station. l-r are Councillors Gail Dolman, Steve Marshall-Clarke and Marlene Bennett. nrhn 08-05-14 ll-1.

The Department for Transport has announced that Alfreton has been granted funding from the ‘Access for All’ scheme.

Leader of Alfreton Town Council Cllr Scott Walker said the improvements will cut the journey times of disabled passengers by two hours.

He said: “Alfreton is one of the few stations in the country where people with mobility difficulties who alight on the southbound platform - platform 2 - cannot cross to the other platform to allow them to exit the station.

“It has been the practice for some while for people with disabilities to travel further south and leave the train at Nottingham and journey back up to Alfreton to allow them access to the northbound track and to exit the station - an additional journey of some 40 miles to cover a distance of less than 40 yards. That is despite Alfreton being in the top 500 busiest stations in the UK.

“Over the years the council has badgered the rail companies, Government ministers and MPs to press for these much-needed changes.

“Following the improvements we hope that disabled travellers will indeed have their journey time cut by two hours! And it hasn’t taken HS2 to achieve that.”

The proposed changes will be outlined at planning stage later this month and the council will be pressing for other improvements to the ticket facilities and waiting room.

Alfreton is one of 42 train stations in the UK set to receive a share of a £100 million Government fund to improve access for disabled passengers.