The news that both Thirsk and Malton stations have been awarded a total of £1,115,000 for long awaited improvements is really excellent. Thirsk station is to receive £1million towards a footbridge with three lifts, which will transform access at the station, particularly for the disabled and parents with pushchairs and Malton is to have £115,000 to raise the platform so the stepping distance on and off the train is reduced. This is such good news. I’d like to thank everyone including local residents, Grand Central, North Yorkshire, Ryedale and Hambleton councils and TransPennine Express who have joined me in campaigning for this extra funding. It really has been a team effort.
Thirsk and Malton bids were selected from over 100 project nominations covering in excess of 240 individual stations across England, Wales and Scotland from the Department of Transport’s Access for All Mid-Tier funding 2019-2024.
At the moment people have to use the existing old and well-worn stairs to reach the far platform at Thirsk station and wheelchair users have had to use the crossing directly over the railway line, a scenario which I have told ministers on a number of occasions is a traumatic experience when there are trains travelling on the line at over 100 miles per hour. At Malton the stepping distance from the train to the platform has proved very daunting for many passengers so raising the platform will make getting on and off trains much safer.
Graham Meiklejohn, Regional Development Manager for TransPennine Express also welcomed the news “This is a great result and we appreciate the combined effort of everyone in backing and supporting this bid. That said, additional funding in the regional of £2.5m is still required to be able to deliver the project but this funding award will enable us to resubmit our bid to the LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership)”.
Of course I will explore every possible avenue to raise the additional funds so that the footbridge and lifts can be installed as quickly as possible.
