Improving access across the national network is a key objective of the Department for Transport, and a number of stations in the borough of Stockport are benefiting from investment under the Department’s Access for All Programme. Stations have been selected based on usage, weighted by the incidence of disability in the area, as set out in the Railways for All Strategy.
Cheadle Hulme and Marple stations have been identified to be provided with obstacle free routes to all platforms by 2011, and Hazel Grove has recently been completed. Network Rail estimate the investment required to deliver these projects at around £5.9 million.
In addition, small schemes funding of £76,000 has been offered to projects with a total value of £329,000 at Brinnington, Gatley, Heald Green, Romily, and Davenport. This funding is providing access enhancements such as help points, hearing induction loops and customer information systems.
Stockport station itself was upgraded by Network Rail in 2002, to provide level access to platforms and to comply with standards in the SRA publication “Train and Station Services for Disabled Passengers: A Code of Practice”.
More information about station facilities at a local level is held by train operators and the Association of Train Operating Companies.