£60million to improve Mills Hill station

Mills Hill rail station in Middleton has been awarded part of a £60million jackpot fund to improve access for passengers.

This comes as part of a package shared among 26 stations announced by Transport Minister Baroness Kramer.

Accessible, step-free access will be provided after the Government announced additional funding earlier this month to extend the 'Access for All' programme.

The station will also get an accessible route into the station and between each platform.

Harry Alldritt, Friends of Mills Hill said: “We are delighted with the news of the funding. It is Christmas come early. The work won’t be completed until 2019 but at this moment in time we don’t care if we are the first station to have the work done or the last, we are just so pleased that it is going ahead. Getting this disabled access is important because at the minute people are really struggling, even mums with prams are struggling so the improvements are really going to help.”

Baroness Kramer said: “Making the rail network accessible to all is a vital part of our plans to build a stronger economy and a fairer society.

“These improvements will make a real difference to passengers – from those with limited mobility, to people with heavy luggage or parents with prams. This is great news.”

The successful stations were nominated by the rail industry last year and selected for funding according to passenger numbers, the needs of the local area, and proximity to facilities such as hospitals or schools for disabled children.

Costing and design work for each station will be drawn up by Network Rail, with all of the projects due to be completed by 2019.

By the end of 2019, more than £520 million will have been invested in delivering step-free routes at more than 215 stations across the country.