Ash Vale Station’s Step-Free Access Gets Government Go-ahead

Published on: 16 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 17 Jan, 2026

Ash Vale Station: The current flights of stairs make access extremely difficult for people with mobility problems.

By David Reading

The Government has agreed that step-free access can be introduced at Ash Vale Station – bringing good news for the many hundreds of people who supported a campaign for the work to be done.

The scheme is now dependent on Surrey County Council committing matched funding.

The Government announcement has come in a letter to Sir Jeremy Hunt, MP for Godalming and Ash, from Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State for Rail.

Network Rail will work with train operators and other partners to deliver step-free access – expected to be a lift – between the station entrance and all platforms.

Sir Jeremy Hunt: “Fantastic news”

The MP has described the announcement as “fantastic news and a real step forward.”

The station is situated on a high embankment, which can only be accessed by flights of stairs. In the summer of 2024 the Dragon reported that nearly 2,700 people had signed a petition seeking step-free access at the station to help disabled people and others who found it difficult or impossible to climb the stairs.

The work will for part of the Government’s Access for All (AfA) programme.

The Minister’s letter to Sir Jeremy said: “In May 2024, the previous government announced feasibility work on 50 stations without indicating how the delivery of such schemes would be funded, raising significant stakeholder expectations.

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill

“This government is committed to a rigorous approach and only making commitments we believe are affordable and would represent value for money to passengers and taxpayers. Ash Vale helpfully demonstrates this approach.

“Ash Vale is a busy station and the accessibility upgrades will be of significant benefit to a broad cross section of your constituents. It was also selected because significant technical development work already exists, thus speeding up delivery of the accessibility upgrades.

“However, a key factor in this progressing is that Surrey County Council committed matched funding – the provision of which will be a pre-requisite for the project to proceed.”

Network Rail will now begin to engage with train operators and other  partners to mobilise the project’s delivery.

Sir Jeremy Hunt commented: “The decision by the Department for Transport to progress step-free access at Ash Vale to the design stage is fantastic news and a real step forward. Since becoming MP for Ash in 2024, I have been pushing hard in Westminster to progress this scheme, and recently met South Western Railways on site late last year to press the strong case.

“Anyone who uses Ash Vale station and struggles with the three flights of stairs will, I hope, be very relieved to hear that we are finally moving closer to getting a lift.

“This is a significant step forward in our efforts. A lift would be truly transformative for wheelchair users, older people and families with prams. Really great news.”

Watch Sir Jeremy’s statement on YouTube

See also: MP Hunt Presses Government Over Ash Vale Station’s Access Problems

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