Sutton station set for new lifts
Passengers at Sutton station in south London can look forward to new, more reliable lifts, as Network Rail starts to replace them next month.
The existing lifts have been in use since 2001 and are becoming increasingly unreliable.
Network Rail’s engineers will start work on Monday, June 16, with the new lifts expected to be in use by the end of September.
All three lifts will be taken out of service at the same time. Replacing the lifts simultaneously, rather than individually, will mean engineers are able to complete this work significantly quicker, meaning passengers will be able to benefit from the new, more reliable lifts much sooner.
Passengers who cannot use stairs and need step-free access to and from the platforms are advised to use an alternative accessible local station such as Carshalton or Cheam. Local Transport for London (TfL) buses connects Sutton to these nearby stations.
For help and planning specific journeys, passengers are advised to speak to station staff and assisted travel services from Southern and Thameslink are also available.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail Sussex route director, said: “The existing lifts at Sutton station have been in use for 24 years and need replacing to give passengers reliable step-free access to the rail network.
“We recognise closing the lifts will be disruptive, particularly to passengers with accessibility needs, but by replacing all three simultaneously, we can finish the work in approximately 12 weeks, whereas replacing the lifts one by one would have caused significant disruption to the station and passengers and take around nine months to complete.
“We’re working closely with our train operator partners Southern and Thameslink to ensure anyone with accessibility needs can continue using the rail network during this time.
“We encourage passengers to please plan ahead and speak to their train operator or station staff if they have any questions about alternative travel options and thank them for bearing with us while we complete this work.”
Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Govia Thameslink Railway which runs Southern and Thameslink services, said: “Sutton station is not only a destination in its own right but also an important interchange for many of our passengers.
“That’s why it’s vital the reliability of the lifts is addressed as quickly as possible.
"Along with Network Rail, I'm sorry for the impact this may have and encourage anyone who needs to use lifts to plan their trips carefully during this important work.”