Call for station entrance to be opened again

LEYLAND 28-01-16
The new bridge at Leyland railway station is near completion. The bridge will make access easier for people with disabilities. — LEYLAND 28-01-16 The new bridge at Leyland railway station is near completion. The bridge will make access easier for people with disabilities.

Network Rail are investing £4.5m to improve the access by building a new footbridge which will provide access to all platforms for wheelchair users, people with prams and those with limited mobility.

Councillor Claire Hamilton, who represents Leyland Central ward, said: “Network Rail have closed the main entrance to the old ticket office and I have noticed a number of residents climbing up the steep bank to get through the fence onto Golden Hill Lane.

“Residents have asked for the old entrance to be reopened and that Network Rail reconsiders their plans to allow for access to the station through this central point. If they cannot then the signage must be significantly improved about how to access the train platform.”

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “As part of a £4.5m project to improve accessibility at Leyland station, the former main entrance has been closed ahead of work to demolish the old footbridge.

“Once the footbridge has been demolished, the old entrance will no longer provide access down to platform level.

“Currently customers must access all platforms via the new ticket office building adjacent to platform one.

“When the project completes in early summer, the car park adjacent to platform four will reopen and customers will be able to access the station from either side once more. To help manage this change, Northern Rail who manage the station, deployed staff members to stand outside the station each day last week informing customers about the change.

“We have also installed signage on the old ticket office building.”