Greater Anglia advises passengers of next phase of Chelmsford station lift upgrade works

Work is about to begin to renew the passenger lift on platform 1 at Chelmsford train station to improve facilities for customers.

The lift on platform 2 has already been replaced during the first phase of the works and is due to reopen for use by mid-April.

Work is due to start to replace the lift on platform 1 on 18 April 2024.

As a result, passengers are being advised that the lift to platform 1 will be out of use from 18 April 2024 until autumn 2024.

Both lifts need to be replaced due to their age and the scarcity of replacement parts. Greater Anglia is carrying out this work to improve lift reliability and the overall travel experience for passengers.

For passengers who cannot use the stairs, Greater Anglia is putting in place a number of measures to enable people with accessibility needs to continue to travel, which have been agreed with Greater Anglia’s Accessibility Panel.

These include extra staff on hand to help passengers, the provision of accessible taxis where needed, and an accessible minibus which will provide a shuttle service to Shenfield and Witham stations – which have step-free access – from 7am until 9pm daily, to enable those who cannot use Chelmsford station while the work is being carried out to still make their journeys.

Those who cannot use the stairs at Chelmsford station are advised to plan in advance, allowing extra time for their journeys, and to contact Greater Anglia’s Passenger Assistance service to discuss their journey in advance on 0800 028 2878 (free from landlines and mobiles), or Text Type: 18001 0800 028 2878.

Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, Simone Bailey, said:

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience while we renew the lifts at Chelmsford. This work is essential to maintain the functionality and reliability of the lifts and will improve passenger facilities at the station.

“We will do everything we can to ensure people can still make their journeys with as little inconvenience as possible while this work is being carried out.

“We look forward to completing this final phase of the work and getting the lift back open as quickly as possible.”