THE TIMESCALE for the new accessibility lifts to be installed at Barnt Green Station have been revealed.
An informative evening with representatives from Network Rail (NR) – senior sponsor Simon Clifford and sponsor Jennifer Slater – and Barnt Green Parish Council Chairman Robert Cholmondeley was held at the village’s Friends Meeting House on Monday night.
According to NR, the contractors will be chosen and announced by December and work will begin on the project mid to late January next year. The whole scheme should be completed in late August.
The project would see three lifts put in – on Patform 1 (Fiery Hill Road), Platform 4 (Hewell Road) and one on the central reservation to serve platforms 2 and 3.
Ms Slater said: “It’s been really positive – there has been so much support and local interest.”
Mr Clifford added: “It’s been really interesting to hear points that have been made about other parts of the infrastructure.”
The pair vowed to meet again regularly with residents during the progress and up until the conclusion of the project.
Mr Cholmondeley said: “I think what we have seen tonight is very positive – Network Rail has given confirmation of the project and dates, including the completion.
“The funding is secured so there should not be any financial issues – I’m more optimistic now.”
Other issues at Barnt Green
Those gathered raised other problems with the station, including accessing information on Platform 1 where there are currently no information boards or a speaker linked to the PA system.
Residents said they could sometimes hear the announcements from the speaker on Platform 2 from Platform 1 but they were often drowned out by the noise of trains and traffic.
A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing our passengers with the information they need to use the rail network with confidence.
“While the majority of passengers now check their journey times online, we are exploring the feasibility of upgrading the passenger information facilities on Platform 1 at Barnt Green.
“In the meantime, departure information remains available online, through station help points or via the information screens on Platform 2/3 and Platform 4.”
Calls were also made for paper timetables for those, often older people, who did not have Internet access on their phones.
On that, a West Midlands Railway spokesperson added: “We no longer print paper pocket timetables in response to a significant decline in their popularity as well as to reduce our carbon footprint.
“The vast majority of our customers now prefer to check their journey times online, where live travel information taking into account any on-the-day service alterations or delays is available 24/7.
“For customers who prefer print, timetables for every West Midlands Railway route are available in ‘Print At Home’ format on our website at wmr.uk/timetables.”
