Surveys to be carried out at train station after improvement works delay

Surveys are due to take place at Kidsgrove station in Staffordshire after unmapped underground mine shafts delayed multimillion pound work improvement works.

Network Rail began work on the ‘Access for All’ upgrade of the station in 2018 but had to pause work on site earlier this year because of poor ground conditions.

Over the next six weeks investigations will take place to find out what needs to be done so building work can resume. The project is part of the rail industry’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Deborah Fairweather, Network Rail sponsor, said: “We understand the frustration to station-users at Kidsgrove who were looking forward to these much-needed improvements as part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan. We are working hard to restore this project and get it delivered, and these specialist surveys are the next step of that process.

“We are working closely with the station operator, East Midlands Railway, to ensure our work brings as little disruption as possible to passengers at the station.”

Neil Grabham, customer services director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We know our passengers and the local community are keenly awaiting the improvements at Kidsgrove and it is good news the project is again moving forward.

“Although the station will look different during these works there will be no changes to our services so our passengers can continue to travel with confidence and we look forward to the successful completion of the work.”

As part of the Department for Transport’s ‘Access for All’ programme new lifts and a footbridge are being installed at the station.

The upgrade will see lifts built at either side of platforms 1,2, 3 and 4 with the new footbridge linking the platforms.