Passengers travelling from Canterbury West are set to benefit from a more accessible station after the city council granted provisional planning approval for the installation of a new footbridge and two new lifts.

The project, which will create a step-free route between the station entrance and both platforms, will also include new tactile paving along the edge of the platform to assist the visually impaired and an enhanced CCTV system.

Dave Ward, Network Rail’s route director for Kent, said: “The improved facilities at Canterbury West will help bring the station into the 21st century.  The railway provides an important public transport link into London and across Kent and we are pleased to make it easier to use, safer and more accessible for everyone, including those with reduced mobility or people with heavy luggage or accompanying young children.”

Vince Lucas, Service Delivery Director Southeastern, added: “Passengers using Canterbury West have already started benefiting from the high speed services and we are pleased they will soon also have better access and movement around the station.  We will be working with Network Rail to keep disruption for passengers to an absolute minimum while this important work is carried out.”

Final plans and designs will now be drawn up and it is anticipated that construction work will start next year.

Network Rail is managing and delivering the improvements, which are being funded through the Department for Transport’s £370m Access For All scheme.

Canterbury West station has been identified as one of the stations which will be improved through the national stations improvement programme.