A new lift and additional staircase have been formally opened at Maidenhead station with a ceremony to celebrate Network Rail’s investment.
Lady Theresa May, the former Prime Minister and MP for Maidenhead, current MP Joshua Reynolds and Simon Werner, leader of Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council, attended an event with Network Rail, train operating companies and the local accessibility group.
The lift and staircase have been installed to serve platforms two and three, making the station easier and safer to use. Previously only one staircase was available, which could lead to passengers queuing on the platform.
The lift had reached the end of its working life and was replaced and moved to a new location to create space for the extra staircase.
With 3.2 million journeys a year, Maidenhead is now a fully accessible station once again and stayed open throughout the work.
The improvements were carried out by Network Rail’s contractor, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, who excavated more than 150 tonnes of spoil that was reused in the station.
Timber that was removed during the work was donated to Braywick Plant Nurseries, a local not-for-profit organisation, which gives disabled people employment, training and work experience. It’s being repurposed by volunteers from the local community.
Upgrades were also made to passenger information screens, the public address system and CCTV.
Network Rail sponsor Alan Gough said: “It’s great to be able to celebrate this investment in Maidenhead that will make this key station in the Thames Valley safer and easier to use.
“We’re sorry for the disruption during the work but step-free access is now available to all platforms again.”
GWR customer services director Rachel Geliamassi said: “We’re delighted to officially reopen these facilities, and the major improvements you can see around me – providing a more accessible, safer station environment for all who use it.
“Maidenhead is a very important station for both residents and visitors and we are delighted to have been able to work with Network Rail, and the Royal Borough of Maidenhead and Windsor to deliver these improvements.
“We know that working together means we can deliver more and we are committed to a cooperative, collaborative approach with the communities we serve.”
Image credit: Network Rail
