Reddish North Station will soon become more accessible, with work due to start soon on lifts and a new footbridge.

Spades are expected to be in the ground by late March / early April, after plans to redevelop the station were approved.

As it stands, Reddish North only has a footbridge to connect its two platforms, which requires people to climb a flight of stairs to reach the opposite side. 

The new redevelopment, being carried out by Network Rail, is designed to make all parts of the station more available to people with restricted mobility - whether it's wheelchair users, passengers on crutches, people with prams, or indeed anyone who would benefit from more ready access.

The redevelopment will also see wider changes across the station, including: access stairs to both platforms from outside; a complete resurfacing of pavements; more tactile paving; seating; a toilet; and public help points. 

Disability access campaigner Nathaniel Yates described the news as 'absolutely amazing'.

Disability access campaigner Nathaniel Yates at Reddish North station (Image - Nub News)

Nathaniel has been a key voice in improving accessibility at Reddish North and all other railway stations in Greater Manchester.

advertisement

He's been campaigning for improvements for around eight years, after deciding to take action when he fell down the stairs at Reddish North when trying to catch a train.

"I'm absolutely delighted", he said. "This is a generational change that will have a really big impact.

"It will level the playing field more and more.

"Accessibility is so important because it gives everybody the ability to use everything - it opens up new avenues to everyone".

Nathaniel has been campaigning alongside local politicians to bring improvements such as this to fruition.

Approved plans for Reddish North Station, with changes outlined in red (Image - Network Rail)

A temporary footbridge is expected to be installed while works take place. 

Last year, it was confirmed that Reddish North would be earmarked for improvements alongside Woodsmoor, Bredbury, and Davenport, which are all expected to have step-free access in the coming years. 

advertisement

The improvements mean that 63 per cent of railway stations in Greater Manchester will have step-free access by 2028. 

Nathaniel is hoping that all stations are fully accessible by 2040.

The current works will be funded by a £34m investment from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to improve accessibility. 

Reddish North was one of ten stations in Greater Manchester to receive the grant, including Bredbury.  

Network Rail has since submitted a Heritage Statement, meaning that instead of being demolished as the original plans suggested, the bridge will be carefully dismantled and relocated to "an alternative appropriate heritage context". 

~

Free from clickbait, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or X