Lichfield Trent Valley station. Pic: Rob Newman and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Passengers have been reassured that a project to improve disabled access at Lichfield Trent Valley will not be delayed.

There had been fears that the installation of lifts at the split level station could be pushed back beyond 2020.

But Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP has insisted that the project will be completed by 2019.

He said: “Network Rail are currently developing options for the accessible route ahead of producing a detailed design for the work.

“They hope to start construction shortly after the design is complete and will deliver the project by March 2019 at the latest.”

His comments come after Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has raised his concerns that funding may not be available for the project.

The Conservative MP welcomed the Rail Minister’s reassurance over the future of Lichfield Trent Valley.

“Disabled access – and access for those with babies and luggage – at the station has been a long campaign of mine and I have raised it several times in the House of Commons,” he said. “There was a very real fear that the Autumn Statement a couple of weeks backs would not have provided the Department of Transport with the funds needed to undertake this work and we were all holding our breath.

“But the Treasury have come through and I hope that the construction will all be completed in 2018. It will involve two lifts _ one at the north platform and one at the south platform both linking to the overhead cross city line platform.

“It makes a great Christmas present from the Treasury and the Department of Transport to the people of Lichfield.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.