A new access ramp has been officially unveiled at Dorchester West station by Network Rail and Dorset Council to give passengers step-free access to platform one and Dorset County hospital.
The £350,000 ramp will significantly improve access for people with buggies, disabled people and people of restricted mobility to and from Dorchester West station and improve the journey between the station and Dorset County hospital. Money for the ramp came from Network Rail, Dorset Council, West Dorset District Council, Dorchester Town Council as well as a private donation.
Previous access to platform one was via a stepped footbridge meaning people with reduced mobility were unable to get to Dorset County Hospital by train using platform one, instead having to travel on to Weymouth, change to a northbound train and use platform two. Passengers for the hospital can save themselves a few extra minutes by using the new station exit via the ramp as it brings you out on Williams Way.
Local resident Lizzie Millner (Pictured) spoke to KeeP 106: “I’m just pleased it been built. It means that me and other wheelchair users don’t have to go to Weymouth to get on a Bristol bound train. It will mean that people who are disabled or got mobility issues can get on the train at Weymouth and get off at Dorchester West and it will mean easier access to Dorset County Hospital too. I know it’s been in the pipeline for years and when Dorset County Council built that Loading Only layby for it, I didn’t realise on how long it would be between that being built and the new access ramp for the Up platform at Dorchester West.”
Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “The new ramp at Dorchester West will provide step-free access to platform one and give people access to the hospital from the station. Working with our partners Dorset Council and Great Western Railway (GWR), we have come up with a sustainable solution that will benefit the local community for years to come.”
Sustainability and biodiversity has been at the heart of the project as the ramp is made from recycled concrete and other materials sourced from a local construction site. Six trees were removed to allow for the ramp to be built but will be replaced with six new ones. The trees will be primarily native and will replace the lost breeding bird habitat. Hedgehogs will be catered for with a new hedgehog house which will be within the new landscaped area, and insects will be able to stay at an invertebrate hotel built amongst the vegetation, away from the walkway.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment at Dorset Council, told KeeP 106: “This project has been years in the making, and it’s fantastic to see this ramp built to provide step-free access to the platform. We’re proud of our continued funding of sustainable travel projects to support greener travel choices for Dorset commuters, be that rail, bus or walking and cycling facilities.”
Dan Okey, GWR head of commercial development, said: “Previously over 160,000 people a year successfully used our assisted travel service, but we are always looking at how we can improve upon what we offer, to help reduce barriers for those with reduced mobility to travel by train. We hope investing in this new ramp, improving access to the station will allow even more people to take advantage of travelling by train.”
Bob Owen, chairman of South Wessex Community Rail Partnership, said: “The improvement at Dorchester West is a welcome addition to one of the stations served by the new South Wessex Community Rail Partnership. We look forward to working with Dorset Council, Network Rail and other authorities and communities along the line to achieve further enhancements to the stations on this scenic route.”
Related item: Opening of the new access ramp at Dorchester West Station
Top picture: Jonathan Maidment and Jason Bridges from Network Rail, Dorchester’s Mayor and Mayoress Gareth and Anne Jones and Chris Loader MP with Friends of the Dorchester West Station.
