As part of the Government’s Access for All programme, we’re upgrading Warwick station to provide an accessible route from the ticket office to both platforms.
The multimillion pound investment will make it easier for people to visit friends, get to the shops or to work.
Accessibility benefits everyone – people with health conditions or impairments, people with children, heavy luggage or shopping. It’s also good for the economy and means fewer car journeys, less congestion and carbon emissions.
What’s happening?
The Project will be installing two new lifts at Warwick station. In February 2023 we started work to install two new lifts at Warwick station to improve accessibility for station users.
When we began the ground excavations for the new lift on Platform 1, we unexpectedly uncovered foundations believed to be from the first railway station built on the site in 1852.
After further investigation it was found to be an inverted arch foundation. It is believed that this historic foundation is still used to provide support to the walls and the station building. As we can’t remove this inverted arch, we are reviewing the designs to find another suitable location for the lift on Platform 1, as close to the original location as possible.
The work will make the station more accessible for local people and visitors to Warwick. The location of the new lift shafts means that we’ll also be extending the subway and creating a new set of stairs on platform 1.
The new platform 2 lift shaft will be constructed on the embankment behind platform 2. This will provide lift access from the subway level to Platform 2.
Will there be disruption?
Our team will set up a compound behind platform 1, where there may be an amount of noise as teams come and go from site.
Though we work hard to keep local disruption to a minimum, the nature of the work means that periods of disturbance will be unavoidable and there may be increased traffic around the station while work is underway.
Will the station be open?
For the majority of the work, the station will operate as usual, though there will be periods of a few days at a time where the ticket office is closed.
We’ll have to take several car park spaces to store our materials and equipment.
We will need to close access through the subway while the work takes place, therefore a diversionary route (taking around 6 minutes) will be in place for passengers moving between platforms 1 and 2. The route will be signposted at the station. Further details of when this closure will be in place will be communicated as soon as possible.
Are trains affected?
The work will have very little impact on trains services from Warwick station. However, due to the temporary shortening of Platform 1, since Monday 6 February 2023 the following services do not currently call at Warwick – but will still call at Warwick Parkway and Leamington Spa:
- Monday – Friday: 09:30 to Birmingham Snow Hill
- Saturday: 19:29 to Birmingham Moor Street
- Sunday: 20:03 to Birmingham Moor Street
Check your journey at National Rail.
Downloads
Below are some of the draft engineering plans drafted for the project which give an idea of where the lifts will be installed.
These documents may not be suitable for users of assistive technology
I have a question – how can I get in touch?
Our project team are happy to answer any questions or concerns about the work taking place to improve accessibility at Warwick. Call the 24-hour Network Rail national helpline on 03457 41 11 11, or contact us.