Network Rail has announced that the improvements to Crawley railway station have been completed as part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.

The £3.9m investment improves accessibility at the station and reduces the time taken to get to platform 2 from the main station and Crawley shopping centre.

The station serves over 1.7 million passengers a year and is on the Arun Valley line, between Three Bridges and Horsham.

The improvements included new lifts and a footbridge to serve both platforms.

The bridge was lifted into place at the station by a crane back in July last year.

Credit: Network Rail

As well as the new footbridge and lifts, new tactile surfaces have been installed on the platforms which will assist visually impaired passengers.

The Access for All programme is funded by the Department for Transport and more than £300m is to be spent on providing accessible routes to platforms.

Shaun King, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said: “The improvements at Crawley station will make a big difference to passengers, especially those with reduced mobility or with small children, and is part of a wider effort to build a bigger, better railway.”

“We’re pleased to have completed a major construction project like this without any disruption to rail services or station access. The upgraded station will better serve the needs of passengers now and into the future.”

Angie Doll, Managing Director for Southern and Gatwick Express, said: “On behalf of our Crawley passengers, especially those for whom the lack of lifts made the station difficult to use, we welcome this major investment in step free access from street to platform.”

“The new infrastructure will be complemented by the seven new benches we have installed as part of our network wide, multimillion-pound station improvement programme. We’re also enclosing the front of Platform 2’s waiting shelter for better weather protection.”