Campaign given a lift

Station access plan praise

Network Rail this week found itself in the unfamiliar position of being praised for a proposed project.

After months of criticism over the replacement of Kerse Bridge, the company has won plaudits for agreeing to improve accessibility to platforms nine and 10 at Stirling Station.

At the moment, the only way of accessing the two platforms is by a flight of steps.

Alloa trains generally stop at the platforms and there have long been complaints from passengers with mobility issues about access.

Now, as part of the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa line electrification work, lifts are likely to be installed to create step-free access to platforms nine and 10.

Network Rail has already lodged a planning application for alterations to the Grade B-listed station it says are necessary to accommodate electric trains.

They want to alter platform canopies and improve access by raising the height of the footbridge between platforms two and three and replacing the bridge between six and nine with a “fully accessible structure”.

Stirling and District Access Panel chairman Robert Dick welcomed the changes.

“After years of campaigning by several voluntary groups, we are delighted to see that as part of line electrification, NetworkRail has finally proposed a viable plan to bring full accessibility to all platforms, particularly benefitting travellers to/from Alloa,” he added.

Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Alexander Stewart said he had been calling for access improvements through regular questioning of Transport Minister Humza Yousaf and Network Rail officials.

Mr Stewart said: “The Transport Minister said the whole issue had been kicked into the long grass for 10 years and he acknowledged it was something which needed to be progressed with urgency.

“For the people with disabilities and mobility issues, this is most definitely a move in the right direction but I remain guarded as we’re not quite there yet. I look forward to hearing from the Transport Minister as to the next step in bringing the scheme to fruition.”

Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown said the Scottish Government-funded electrification programme had made the access improvement scheme a viable proposition.

He said in 2014, when he was the Minister for Transport, he included Stirling station as a top priority for inclusion in the UK Government’s Access for All Fund.

However,it was not included in the final list of stations to be funded.

He welcomed the news there was an end in sight to the saga.