A bid to have a lift installed to improve platform accessibility at Inverurie Railway Station has been thrown out by the UK Government just months after a promise to carry out the work.
In a letter to Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross, the Department of Transport announced that Inverurie had been dropped from the Access for All programme due to funding issues.
In May 2024, Inverurie was among 50 stations earmarked by the previous Conservative government for funding to provide step-free access at the platform to improve accessibility.
However, Labour ministers announced that only eight projects will now be given the go ahead and a further 29 taken to the design phase.
Despite admitting the improvements would “benefit a significant number of passengers” in Inverurie, Labour’s railway minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said the government would need “third party contributions” for the project to go ahead.
Unlike other platform bridges at Dyce and Kintore which have lifts installed, the one in Inverurie is just a footbridge.
As such, it makes it difficult for those who struggle to use stairs to access both platforms.
In September, Network Rail confirmed to Ms Cross that the work at Inverurie had been earmarked for Access for All funding alongside three other Scottish stations – Falkirk Grahamston, Bellgrove, and Dumbarton Central.
Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, who has now written to the Department for Transport following the decision, said: “I am extremely frustrated that the UK Government will not fund improvement work at Inverurie.
“This is despite the station having previously been earmarked for improvements and the government themselves admitting this would have had a hugely positive impact on passengers.
“I have been told of numerous instances where users with reduced mobility, and those travelling with luggage, prams or bikes, have faced access difficulties at Inverurie.
“This shouldn’t be the case. Public transport must be accessible for all users.
“Along with Insch Station, Inverurie is being pushed further to the back of the queue for these vital improvements that would significantly benefit passengers with access needs.
“I have written to the Department for Transport asking the UK Government why it has moved the goalposts for these upgrades and to justify its decision.
“I don’t accept the reasons presented to me. It seems nothing less than a continuation of North East Scotland and our rural communities being forgotten and overlooked by this government.”
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Douglas Lumsden added: “This disgraceful decision from the UK Government puts an intolerable barrier on disabled passengers, parents with children, and groups such as the elderly with mobility issues.
“It’s completely unacceptable that Inverurie, known as Scotland’s fastest growing town, lacks the basic accessibility features that make travel accessible.
“The UK Government must reverse this shameful decision and implement the changes they promised for Inverurie, which is lagging behind in modern accessibility for passengers.”
In his response, the minister for rail, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Unfortunately, little or no prior technical development work exists for the proposed accessibility upgrades at Inverurie station.
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“The absence of third-party funding contributions to the project was the crucial factor in the decision for it to not progress at this time.
“I recognise that the decision to not progress further work at Inverurie station will be disappointing to you and your constituents.
“However, funding for future rounds of AfA may be made available as part of the next Spending Review and this could provide an opportunity to fully or partially fund accessibility upgrades at Inverurie station.”
