Lack of step free access at Ruabon station highlighted to UK transport secretary

The lack of step free access at a local station has been highlighted to the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Transport.

Campaigners want to install lifts at Ruabon Station to help people with mobility issues move between platforms. However it has missed out twice on funding for the improvements – despite funding once being announced.

Current access to the north bound Chester platform at the station is only possible by a footbridge with long flights of stairs on both platforms, with all passengers having to negotiate over 50 steps on this footbridge.

Last year The Access for All Mid-Tier scheme saw Welsh Government nominate a number of stations, supported by match funding to the Department for Transport (DfT).

However the local station was not selected by the UK Government in the final allocations for accessibility improvements, despite investment once being described as ‘confirmed’ with obligatory photo-op on the station platform with Welsh Government due to supply the cash.

Recently UK Government’s Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps met with Clwyd South MP, Simon Baynes and Lead Member for Environment and Transport at Wrexham Council, David A Bithell to discuss the lack of step free access at the station.

The minister saw first-hand how disabled users, those with prams or buggies or those users with luggage had no access to both platforms due to the lack of a lift at the station.

The station is very well used with over 102,000 visits in 2018/19 and over the past few years over £600,000 has been invested by Wrexham Council and the Regional Transport Consortia to develop the station develop as a transport hub which has provided funding for improved car parking, bus and rail interchange, improvements to shelters, a new entrance and CCTV.

But further investment by Welsh and UK Governments is essential to bring the much needed access to both platforms, says Cllr Bithell.

Cllr Bithell continued: “Government funding is essential to bring this station up to the standards its users deserve.

“It’s the only station on the Chester to Shrewsbury line that doesn’t meet passenger needs and is part of the gateway access for Llangollen and the World Heritage Site at Pontcysyllte.

“I hope 2021 will be the year we see substantial investment in this area.”