State Government to upgrade access at three Inner West train stations
Friday, 27 September 2019
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne welcomed news that State Government has finally listened to advocacy from Council and local residents and will soon upgrade three local train stations to make them more accessible for people who have difficulty with mobility.
Following a public campaign from Inner West Council’s 2019 Citizen and co-Young Citizen of the Year Jamie De Paulo and Zarni Tun, who both identified transport accessibility as a priority, Transport NSW made the decision to fast-track the train station improvements.
The stations the Government has now agreed to upgrade are Petersham, Stanmore and St Peters.
Mayor Byrne said Council has been calling on the government for some time now to upgrade all Inner West train stations to make them accessible to people of all abilities.
“In 2019, it’s just unbelievable that this crucial public transport link has been closed off to the elderly, people living with disabilities, those with temporary injuries as well as pram users.
“Residents and rail users are feeling frustrated that the State Government and train bosses are not prioritising accessible transport options. They are upset that they have to put up with – and, as taxpayers, have to pay for - a public service that actively discriminates against them,” he said.
Council recently contacted the Secretary for Transport NSW, Rodd Staples, requesting an update on the status of these stations and when work on the upgrades be carried out.
“The Secretary has now let Council know that the Petersham upgrade will begin in early 2020, and take about 18 months to complete. Stanmore and St Peters stations are set to follow, with completion estimated for 2023,” said Mayor Byrne.
“In further good news, Dulwich Hill station will be upgraded as part of the Metro City and Southwest works, with the station receiving elevator access for the first time ever.
“This is a great win for our community, and follows on from Council’s successful lobbying to have a temporary access ramp left in place at Tempe Railway station at the conclusion of recent refurbishment work,” said Mayor Byrne.
Of the 10 railway stations located in the Inner West, three are in Sydney Trains’ “Top 10 In Need Ranking”. Petersham Station stands second in the rankings, followed by Stanmore Station at fourth and Lewisham Station at sixth.