Biggleswade Lifts Update 17.03.25

I have just come out of a fairly short meeting with Network Rail to discuss the latest progress towards a step-free Biggleswade station. Thankfully It was a short meeting due to no major issues being reported.

One previous area of concern was the ground conditions in the area where the lifts are to be located. However, work has progressed without any issues with the piling completed and the ‘lift pits’ (the foundations for the lifts) on each platform are now ready for concrete to be poured into them.

The foundations for the ramp that will lead to the new bridge containing the lifts.

Those who use the station will have seen the new scaffold bridge running across to both platforms which enables works to carry on while trains are running. We were told this has been working well. More substantial work involving the steel structure for the new lifts and bridge is due to take place over two periods in May when engineering work on the line is taking place and no trains will be running.

The temporary scaffold bridge to enable some works to take place on the platforms while trains are running.

One area that may be a pinch point is the provision of power to the lifts once they have been installed. However, it is not thought to be a significant risk and discussions are ongoing between the power provider and Network Rail to ensure this is coordinated without any issue. We believe some prep work may already be taking place.

I did ask what could go wrong from this point onwards – I’m not going to relax until the lifts are in service! We were told that the ‘possessions’ in May (in railway terms possessions are when engineers take over a section of the railway) are very important as that level of access is very scarce, so fingers crossed these will proceed without a hitch.

The location of the entrance to the new bridge.

So, as it stands the lifts are still on course to open this December. Once again I asked the question about what the staffing levels will be at the station when the lifts open. Unfortunately, there was no one from Govia Thameslink Railway at the meeting, so yet again I was not given an answer. We are a matter of months away from the lifts being opened. I will continue to press for staff to be available (and the lifts to be open) from the first train until the last.

A poster at the station indicating a step-free Biggleswade station in December 2025.

Our next meeting (CBC and Town Councillors, Richard Fuller MP and BRAN colleagues were also at the meeting) has been pencilled in for June. By then we will have a pretty clear idea about the progress of the scheme and hopefully we will be able to say with a great deal of confidence that we are on course for the lifts to be opened as an early Christmas present for Biggleswade. You have been very patient, you all deserve it!

This has been an eight-year campaign. It shouldn’t have to be this way.

Julian Vaughan

Chair Bedfordshire Rail Access Network

17th March 2025