£5.75m boost for accessible transport at Irlam Station

As part of a £5.75 million investment to improve accessible and inclusive public transport, two new lifts have been installed at Irlam station helping to make it easier to use for all passengers as part of a rolling programme of upgrades aimed at boosting access to Greater Manchester’s rail network.

To officially mark the completion of the step-free access lifts, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Salford’s Statutory Deputy City Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, were joined at the station by accessibility campaigners, members of the community and the Hamilton Davies Trust for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the upgrades will make the station much more accessible for passengers, especially those who are wheelchair users, have limited mobility, or are travelling with bicycles, pushchairs or luggage. 
Currently, less than half of the city-region’s stations are accessible. With funding from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) and the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme, 63% of Greater Manchester’s stations will be step-free by March 2028.

This includes works scheduled to begin next year on step-free access schemes at Swinton, Hindley, Bryn and Reddish North, with accessibility improvements at Flowery Field, Newton for Hyde, Bredbury and Levenshulme to follow.

Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “As part of our commitment to creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all, investment in accessible, quality public transport is a key element to achieving our vision for the city. Along with local councillors, we have been actively campaigning to get this project completed for local people.

“Step-free access at stations like Irlam are vital to making travel inclusive for all passengers across the wider public transport system. Accessibility benefits everyone and step-free stations make it easier for people to visit family and friends or to work.

“The two new lifts installed will achieve this and help meet the needs of passengers at Irlam station, ensuring that people can travel more easily and confidently. These improvements are a big step in the right direction and something we have worked closely with partners in the city to make possible. So, I’m really pleased to see this planned work for essential services now completed and the positive impact they will have for rail users.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “It’s great to see these new lifts operating at Irlam just weeks after the official opening of the step-free scheme at Daisy Hill.

“We are now beginning to deliver accessibility improvements at stations across Greater Manchester at a much greater pace than in the preceding decades, as we strive to deliver a more inclusive and accessible public transport network.

“The installation of step-free schemes at stations across our city region is key to our vision for the Bee Network as a fully joined-up public transport network, allowing people to make seamless journeys between trains, buses, trams and active travel.”

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “Accessibility is a key priority for the government and I am delighted to see that thanks in part to over £3.8 million from our Access for All programme, Irlam Station will be step free for the first time ever.

“This follows a further £2.75 million to improve accessibility at Daisy Hill Station, underlining our commitment both to transport in the North and ensuring everyone can travel on our railways easily, confidently and with dignity.”

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the station’s Heritage Hub opening, which has seen the Station House impressively restored by local charity Hamilton Davies Trust (HDT), who also campaigned for step-free access for local residents. 

Julie Thompson, spokesperson for the Hamilton Davies Trust, said: “We are so pleased to see this improvement to the facilities at Irlam station. We are keen to improve the experience for commuters and the local community, and hope that even more people will be able to visit and enjoy the Heritage Hub and the hospitality at the station cafe."

Caption for picture: A ribbon-cutting event was held at Irlam station to celebrate the official opening of two new lifts. L-R: Cllr Tracey Rawlins, Disability Advocate on the Bee Network Committee; Cllr Tracy Kelly, Salford's Statutory Deputy City Mayor; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Nathaniel Yates, accessibility campaigner; Neil McArthur, Hamilton Davies Trust chair; Cat Morris, Rail Programme sponsor, TfGM.