Success after four month battle to fix Virginia Water station lifts

The Liberal Democrats are pleased to report that the lifts at Virginia Water station are finally operational again after a four-month period of restricted service that caused significant hardship for disabled and elderly residents.

The issue came to light in July when a local resident contacted Liberal Democrat Councillor Karin Rowsell about the lifts being out of service since May 2024. The lifts could only be used during staffed hours due to faulty emergency telephone lines, leaving many residents unable to access the platforms during evenings and weekends.

"This situation was completely unacceptable," says Cllr Rowsell. "Public transport must be accessible to everyone, at all times. Some of our residents were effectively cut off from using the trains they rely on."

After persistent pressure from the Liberal Democrats, South Western Railway confirmed they were upgrading the lift systems from outdated analogue phone lines to modern digital technology. The work was finally completed in October 2024, restoring full 24/7 lift access.

This case highlights the importance of maintaining and upgrading our local infrastructure. The Liberal Democrats believe that everyone should have equal access to public transport, as outlined in our transport policy which commits to significantly improving disabled access at stations.

We will continue monitoring the situation and fighting for better accessibility across all local stations. If you experience any issues with station facilities, please contact your local Liberal Democrat councillor.

For more information on our transport policies, visit: www.libdems.org.uk/transport

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