By Victoria Brenan

Published at 11:31, Thursday, 13 September 2012

PENRITH MP Rory Stewart has given a lift to the town’s railway station – quite literally.

The MP has been campaigning for a lift at the northbound platform where passengers have to negotiate two flights of stairs at the end of an underpass.

Anyone with mobility issues or a pram faces “a serious challenge”, he said.

He launched a campaign for a lift last year.

Mr Stewart received a commitment from First Group’s MD designate, Richard Parry, yesterday that a lift will be installed.

“I am absolutely delighted with this result,” he said. “I made very clear in writing to all the franchise bidders that whoever was successful must make a commitment to undertake this long-overdue improvement to the station.

“This is a win for Penrith, and I am now pushing hard to try and make sure that the lift is installed in a sympathetic manner, which respects the great beauty of Penrith’s historic station.”

Penrith councillor John Thompson, who helped with the campaign, said: “Greater disability access for the northbound platform is something Penrith station has needed for many years. This long-awaited decision by FirstGroup to install a lift will ensure the station can now cater for everyone.”

Penrith resident and campaigner Lorna Shaw said: “I used the station only this weekend, and with a heavy suitcase the limited disability access was a major problem, so this installation will come as a relief to a lot of people.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk