London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley, Thomas Turrell, challenged representatives from Network Rail on the slow pace of delivery on important infrastructure to make the rail network more accessible for disabled Londoners.
Speaking at the Transport Committee, Thomas asked Network Rail about it taking over ten years to deliver lifts at Shortlands station. Funding for the lifts was announced by the previous Conservative Government in 2014 but are not due to complete until the spring of 2025 after works started in 2024.
Thomas also criticised the lack of funding for lifts at other stations in Bromley, citing that the Beckenham and Penge constituency had the most train of any parliamentary constituency but very few of them were deemed accessible. Thomas cited the lack of lifts at Kent House station as one example as trains are regularly turned around at this station leaving some passengers stranded.
Thomas said:
“Lifts are important as people need to be access the station, but also we need to address accessibility from platform to train. The gap is still far to big and is hindering peoples ability to travel independently. I am disappointed that stations like Kent House and Clock House remain inaccessible and there are no plans to address this, as Assembly Member I will continue to campaign for accessibility functions at these stations and others.”
