Part of the Government/ Network Rail funded network-wide project to make the railways more accessible to the disabled, mobility impaired and anyone who might struggle with the steps. Walton on Thames, Motspur Park and Stoneleigh among other stations included in recent phases of the programme and Leatherhead was selected in 2019.
A bid has been made for Dorking Deepdene to receive similar improvements which if successful would provide step free access to Gatwick via rail for the first time. Ash Vale in west Surrey, another embankment station with steep steps is also under consideration.
During the current phase of the project the car park access road on one side is signal controlled. Walking and cycling access to north Leatherhead and Therfield School is maintained.
Earlier information from Network Rail below :
Leatherhead station in will soon benefit from two new 16-person capacity lifts and a new footbridge which will make the station fully accessible
Rail users in Surrey will soon benefit from step-free access at Leatherhead station as Network Rail announces accessibility upgrades starting this January.
The £6.2m programme of work will begin on Monday 29 January and is expected to be completed in spring 2025.
Once complete, the station will be fully accessible making it much easier for passengers with limited mobility, visual impairments as well as those travelling with pushchairs and bicycles to make their way around the station.
The project will involve installing two, new 16-person capacity lifts and a new footbridge with staggered staircases (‘Z’ shaped) necessary to avoid station operational equipment on the platform.
Other improvements include refreshing the lighting, adding CCTV and minor alterations to the existing ramp and installing new handrails.
These improvements are funded by the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ‘Access for All’ scheme, which is used to create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms. This generally includes providing lifts or ramps, as well as associated works and refurbishment along the route.
Hodan Hassan, Network Rail’s commercial scheme sponsor, said: “It’s really great to see the investment being made to make stations fully accessible across the Sussex route and we welcome the continued investment from the DfT and continue to work closely with local councils to provide the best experience for all rail users.
“We’d like to reassure passengers and local residents that most of the work will take place over weekdays during daytime hours and will not affect train services during the week.”
Carl Martin, Govia Thameslink Railway’s accessibility lead, said: “We’re committed to removing barriers so that our services are easier for everyone to use, so we’re delighted for our passengers that these major improvements are now under way. The new lifts, footbridge and other enhancements will make going to, from and between the platforms a more accessible experience for all our customers here.”
The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Access for All programme was launched in 2006 to address the issues faced by disabled passengers and passengers with mobility restraints (such as heavy luggage or pushchairs) when using railway stations in Great Britain.
Railway Improvement Works – Step Free Access for Leatherhead Station
The work is due to start on the 29 January 2024 and is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2025. Most of the work will take place Monday to Friday during daytime hours from 07:30 to 17:30 and will not affect the train services during the week. However, there will be some occasions where due to the nature of the work we will have to work overnight or during weekends when trains are not running. We will also need to carry out some piling work for the foundations for the lift shafts and we will contact you nearer the time with further details.
We will have our site welfare and offices in the station car park which will also be used to access our work site. This will mean that 60 parking spaces in the station car park will be suspended.
We will have a temporary walking route on the platform 1 side of the station and the footpath will be diverted to within the car park access road. The car park lane will be reduced to a single lane entry/exit with two-way traffic light control.
Work will take place during mid-weeknights as follows:
05 February 2024 to 09 February 2024 Completed
Each night Monday to Friday from 23:00 to 06:00
Installing a temporary scaffold footbridge and hoists to move materials from platform to platform.
20 May 2024 to 24 May 2024
Each night Monday to Friday from 23:00 to 06:00
Installing the steel lift shafts on both platforms.
01 July 2024 to 05 July 2024
Each night Monday to Friday from 23:00 to 06:00
Erecting scaffolding to carry out brickwork repairs.
29 July 2024 to 02 August 2024
Each night Monday to Friday from 23:00 to 06:00
Dismantling the scaffold on the lift shafts on both platforms.
However, these dates could be subject to change due to the work schedule and the availability of lines closures to access the work site, but we will do everything we can to keep to our planned schedule and minimise as much disruption as possible.
Work will take place during weekend line closures of the railway as follows. However, these dates could be subject to change due to the work schedule and the availability of lines closures to access the work site, but we will do everything we can to keep to our planned schedule and minimise as much disruption as possible.
30 June 2024 to 01 July 2024
Continuous work from 23:01 Sunday to 06:00 Monday
Installing the new footbridge using a crane.
03 August 2024 to 05 August 2024
Continuous work from 23:01 Saturday to 06:00 Monday
Reinstating the platform equipment and station ramp works at the main entrance of the station.
10 August 2024 to 12 August 2024
Continuous work from 23:01 Saturday to 06:00 Monday
Removing the temporary scaffold bridge
Due to the nature of the work and the tools we use, some disturbance will be unavoidable. All staff working on site are fully briefed on working responsibly in the local community and keeping noise levels to an absolute minimum level. We are sorry for any disturbance and inconvenience this causes you.
Delivering the highest standards of safety is paramount to our work and keeping people safe on and around the railway is at the heart of everything we do and does means that we need to carry out a lot of our works while trains are not running and during the night and at weekends.
Leatherhead Living 