SMART has repeatedly tried to raise the issue of access to Marsden Station. We have always received the reply that it is too difficult and too expensive to create access for disabled people, older people and people with push chairs to Platform 1.
Since Network Rail have been in the process of considering what enhancements are needed in order to provide for more trains along the route (the much-delayed Transpennine Route Upgrade), there would appear to be an even stronger case now for improving the access at the same time.
From May 2018, most Manchester-bound trains use platform 2 (rather than the accessible platform 3). Having to negotiate a steep set of steps is bad enough, but having reached the platform it got no better. The height difference between the platform and the train was 51cm (or, if you prefer imperial measurements, 1’9″).
We have made clear our opposition to this, and will continue to do so. The pressing need is to improve access, not to bring access for Manchester-bound trains down to the unacceptable standards of the Huddersfield-bound platform.
In March 2019 Network Rail raised the height of platform 2. Our preference would be for platform 3 to be the main westbound platform until such time as full disabled access is provided to all platforms. If the choice is between platform 2 with a large height gap and platform 2 raised to a safe height, then the latter is preferable.
However, it is imperative that the Transpennine Route Upgrade will provide full disabled access to all platforms at Marsden (and the eastbound platforms at Mossley & Greenfield), and in terms of disabled access that is the main focus of our campaigning. As at Autumn 2019 this commitment had been given and then reneged upon by the Department for Transport.
We met the minister responsible for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, Andrew Stephenson, on Marsden station in July 2020. This was so that he could see for himself why full accessibility was required and how it could be achieved.
In Autumn 2021, following the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan, Andrew Stephenson twice said in parliament (in response to questions from Jason McCartney MP) that both Marsden and Slaithwaite stations would be made fully accessible.
In May 2022, Network Rail confirmed that as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade Marsden station will have a new footbridge with lifts.
My wife and her sister (66 & 76 yrs) boarded the manchester train from p2. They needed help to climb the significant level difference. Regular travellers called it the gap of doom. Do you have any info
When we were consulted about the timetable changes we specifically asked whether westbound trains would be using platform two. It hadn’t been in the information supplied by the train companies, but we had been tipped off by a railway industry insider to ask. Sure enough, we were told that most westbound trains would use platform two, the reason given was that it saved 1.5 minutes compared to going into the platform three loop.
We strongly recommended against this, but it went ahead anyway
Now that platform 3 is essentially ‘unused’, except for – as far as I’m aware – one morning, and one evening train, both of which stop at the station, why is it not possible for passengers to have level access to platform 2 across the track from platform 3? There are no ‘through trains’ using track 3, and it would mean that at least ONE platform of Marsden station was accessible. It would also mean that the position of the only ticket machine made a bit more sense!
A further thought is that level access to platform 2 would also make the station useable for passengers returning from journeys towards Manchester. They would have to travel into Huddersfield, in order to return to Marsden on a westbound service, but surely this is better than being deinied any access to railway station whatsoever.
I also think all this could be achieved for a ludicrously small amount of infrastructure investment, compared to installing lifts – which I suspect we are never going to see.