The 17 Herts railway stations on council's wish-list to transform disabled access

Hertfordshire County Council has unveiled its wish-list for local rail travel

Hertfordshire Mercury. February 2023

Hertfordshire County Council has identified 17 stations which could do with improvements for mobility impaired people (File picture)

Seventeen Hertfordshire stations are poorly equipped for mobility impaired people and need improvements, the county council has said. County councillors have agreed a wishlist for railway travel in the county, with one politician insisting his local station in Baldock “cannot wait” for lift access.

Although rail travel is the responsibility of regional and national organisations, Hertfordshire County Council’s list sets out which schemes its members and residents feel will benefit local travellers and the economy. At a meeting on Tuesday, January 31, Baldock and Letchworth East councillor Michael Muir (Con) said: “In Baldock, we have quite a high percentage of elderly people and they have no cars.

“[The wish-list] mentions the significant growth in housing to the north of the railway, but that won’t really start until 2028, maybe 2029. We won’t get any money from these developments before then. So what scope is there to apply for more funding before then, because we need a lift on both sides of the station?”

Council Officer Trevor Mason replied: “Baldock has been identified as a problem. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has applied to the national funding scheme called ‘Access for All’ - and the next funding is from 2024 until 2029. We have supplied them with a letter of support for their application.”

In addition to Baldock, Royston, Hertford North, Knebworth, Welham Green, Brookman’s Park and Potters Bar stations on the lines out of King’s Cross are identified as being in need of various improvements for mobility impaired passengers and wheelchair users. A report additionally noted electric vehicle charging points are “needed” in Baldock.

Elsewhere in the county, stations earmarked for improvements to make life “less challenging” for mobility impaired people are:

1. Hemel Hempstead - due to a narrow path and uphill slope

2. Apsley

3. King’s Langley

4. Garston

5. Croxley

6. Rickmansworth

7. Radlett

8. Cheshunt - with a plea for lift access

9. Rye House

10. Sawbridgeworth

Baldock station is managed by Govia Thameslink Railway, the firm behind the Thameslink and Great Northern brands. A GTR spokesperson said: “We're constantly looking for ways to make our services easier to use for everyone. We work with Network Rail to seek government investment in major improvements such as lifts.

Hertford North currently has funding allocated, and we've nominated Radlett and Welham Green for the next funding round. The new lift nearing completion at Finsbury Park will also benefit many of our Hertfordshire customers. Where we can, we make smaller improvements ourselves, such as accessible toilets and handrails.”