Port Glasgow Access for All

Project Updates

• Project to provide step-free access at Port Glasgow due to start

  Time: 7.00 | Date: 23-01-23

  Work on a £5m project to improve accessibility at Port Glasgow station in Inverclyde is set to commence next month.

  The project will see Network Rail, working with principal contractor STORY, install a new footbridge and lifts. Uncovered ramped access to the main station entrance at Princes Street will also be introduced to the station, all designed to make it easier for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children or cycles to access the platforms.

  Preparatory work on this ‘Access for All’ (AfA) scheme is set to start in February with the construction of the bridge expected to begin in May. Installation of the bridge and lifts is scheduled to be completed towards the end of the year.

• Information session at Port Glasgow West Community Council meeting

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 30-01-23

  Colleagues from Network Rail and STORY contracting attended Port Glasgow West Community Council's first meeting of 2023 to provide more information on the upcoming Access for All project at Port Glasgow station.

  

  During the meeting, Michael McArthur (Network Rail), Laura Craig (Network Rail), Paul Shopp (STORY), and Monica McGinley (Network Rail) gave presentations on how the project has been funded, details on how and when the project will be delivered and shared artists drawings of what the station will look like when the project is complete.

  The team also discussed how we plan to keep the those who live near the station informed ahead of some of the nosier work taking place and outlined our plans to organise engagement events with local schools, clubs and organisations.
  
  Laura Craig, Scheme Project Manager, Network Rail, said: "It was great to be invited to the meeting, to be able to talk in detail about the project and answer some questions from members of the local community.
  "Thank you to PGWCC for having us and to everyone who came along to listen to our presentations. We're looking forward to work beginning next week."

• We're on site

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 13-02-23

  If you've been travelling through the station or just in the vicinity, you may have spotted our new compound popping up.
  

  

  Our main compound is set up at Highholm Avenue, at the park and ride area.

  

  Further down the hill, we have begun setting up a laydown area for bulk materials.

  

  And we have a temporary compound on Princes St. at the station entrance established ahead of the taxi office's demolition, which is planned for the weekend of Feb 18/19.

• Taxi office demolition takes place

  Time: 22.00 | Date: 18-02-23

  On February 18, our teams carried out the first major piece of work in this initial stage of the Access for All programme by demolishing the taxi office at the Princes Street entrance.

  

  Working through the night, engineers carefully removed the structure which is making way for a new, uncovered ramped access to the main station entrance.

  
  

  These works had to be done when trains aren't running. Our teams did all they could to minimise noise where possible but we thank those living nearby for their patience and understanding.
  
  While there, our teams also carried out some de-vegetation works at Park and Ride car park, above the retaining wall on the Platform 2 side in preparation for future work so the area is now looking a lot tidier.

  It's great to see this first real piece of progress and we're excited.

• Building the foundations

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 07-04-23

  Wondering what's going on behind the hoarding?

  

  To help keep everyone safe while we work, hoarding has been installed on both Platforms, most recently Platform 1. This will allow us to start piling works for the foundations of the new footbridge in the coming weeks.

  

  We’ve kept the existing route via Willison’s lane open to the platform, so the station remains fully accessible while we finish our works on the new Princes Street ramp.
  

  

• Cyclists using the station?

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 14-04-23

  We’re getting ready to relocate the station bike shelter into its new home at the rear of the station building
  

  

  Don't worry though, we'll surface the area of the bike shelter temporarily to keep it in use before we finish our surfacing works later in the project.

• Bike shelter has a new home

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 20-04-23

  Over the weekend, we relocated the bike shelter to its new home near the station building and installed temporary surfacing around the shelter

  

  
  

  Pedestrian access via Willison's Lane is still open while we finish the new Princes Street access ramp.

• What has been going on behind the scenes

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 09-05-23

  In many big projects, there are times when it is hard to tell where progress is being made.

  We caught up with Laura and Rod to tell you more about the work you can see happening on the platforms and the stuff you can't! 👷

• Footbridge trial assembly

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 21-06-23

  We visited M&S Engineering in Annan who are fabricating the bridge that will soon help provide step-free access at Port Glasgow station.

  Here's Laura and Chris to tell you more about the importance of this visit to M&S Engineering and the kind of checks we carried out.👷
  
  https://studio.twitter.com/library/13_1671848485241626627

• Princes Street ramp completion

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 04-07-23

  The project achieved a major milestone on Monday. Following our joint inspection with ScotRail, we officially opened the new ramped access to the station's Princes St entrance.

  

  Back in February, we demolished the old taxi office to make way for the new ramp, providing step-free access for the first time at this entrance.
  

  

  

  
  

  The improvements are funded by the @transportgovuk, managed by Transport Scotland, with contributions from Inverclyde Council. It'll benefit station users, in particular those with reduced mobility, children in prams, and those travelling with luggage.
  
  

  The ramp, paving, walls, and railings (check out the double-arrow!) have all been finished to a high standard. New lighting and CCTV covers the ramp too. Work continues inside the station on the new footbridge and lifts. Well done team!

• Local councillor and community council reps visit station to mark ramp completion

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 12-07-23

  Councillor Cassidy, the vice-convener of environment and regeneration for Inverclyde Council accompanied Tommy Rodger and Anne Ross from Port Glasgow West Community Council came to site to mark the completion of this part of the works.

  

  Read the full press release here.