WORK started on Thursday on building a new footbridge at Alton railway station.

The new bridge will be fully accessible with two lifts for wheelchair users.

The improvement scheme means that by the summer passengers with limited mobility, as well as wheelchair users and people with pushchairs or heavy luggage will have access to all the station platforms.

The bridge will complement other improvements at the station, used by many travellers from the Alresford area, including a lower ticket window providing easy access for wheelchair users, a new accessible toilet and complete refurbishment of the existing toilets. New automatic doors have also been installed at the entrance.

Malcolm Page, estates manager for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, said: “We are delighted to start the work for the new footbridge equipped with lifts at Alton station. The need to improve accessibility at Alton station has been a priority for us for a long time and we have worked hard to deliver improvements for passengers.

“There have been some steps forward over the last couple of years, including the installation of new lower ticket windows, automatic doors and toilets, but it is really with lifts that Alton will now become fully accessible.”

The upgrade, which includes a new footbridge and two new lifts, has been funded by the Department for Transport’s Access for All Programme, South West Trains and Hampshire County Council.