Passengers at Newtown station in Powys can now benefit from step-free access to both platforms, following the completion of a major accessibility upgrade by Network Rail and contractor AmcoGiffen.
The newly opened lifts and footbridge represent a significant milestone in improving accessibility at the station, allowing all passengers, including those with reduced mobility, to access services with greater ease. This is the first time both platforms at Newtown have been fully accessible.
Work began on site in December 2023, with the core infrastructure now complete. In the coming weeks, further enhancements will be made to station furnishings, alongside monitoring and testing of the new lifts to ensure they are operating reliably.
Theo Smith, Senior Portfolio Manager at Network Rail, said:
“I’d like to thank members of the public for their patience while we carried out this important piece of work. We’re committed to making the railway the preferred choice for sustainable travel, and having stations that are accessible for all is critical to achieving that.”
Newtown is one of six stations across the Wales and Borders route benefitting from step-free improvements, funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme. Introduced in 2006, the scheme is designed to address the challenges faced by passengers with disabilities or mobility needs.
The completion at Newtown follows recent successes at Ludlow and Cwmbran, while construction continues on new accessible footbridges and lifts at Abergavenny, Flint, and Llanelli, with those facilities due to open soon.
These upgrades form part of a wider effort to create a more inclusive rail network, ensuring stations meet the needs of all passengers.
