TWO TAMESIDE railway stations are set to receive major accessibility improvements after a nationally known firm was handed a key contract.
Flowery Field and Newton for Hyde, which both sit on the Manchester-Glossop line, are part of a major scheme across the region.
And after Transport for Greater Manchester awarded the contract to carry out the design and build work to Kier, both will have step-free access.
Now the company will evaluate options and progress outline and detailed designs before work starts.
It will also liaise with partners to find smarter, better-value ways to deliver the upgrades before completing improvements at six stations in total ready to open and hand over,
Mandy Duncan, managing director for rail and aviation at Kier Infrastructure, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver these important improvements for communities across Greater Manchester.
“These works will make a real difference to passengers, making the stations more inclusive for all that use them, particularly people with reduced mobility and those travelling with luggage, bicycles or prams.
“We look forward to working closely in collaboration with TfGM and partners Network Rail, Vextrix, Tony Gee and Partners and Northern, to deliver these valuable enhancements.”
Simon Elliott, network director rail at TfGM, said: “Delivering accessibility improvements at these six stations is absolutely key to our ambitions as we continue to build a public transport network that works for everyone in Greater Manchester.
“We’ll be working closely with Kier and our partners in the rail industry to help ensure that these upgrades remove barriers to travel and create a welcoming, attractive and customer-friendly experience at all these stations.”