Disabled passenger injured as Stowmarket station lifts remain closed after £5.5m upgrade
Greater Anglia says final testing and certification of new lifts at Stowmarket station is taking longer than planned.
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Affected person quoted but no right of reply sought.
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Headline uses loaded term 'ableism' without full context.
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A disabled passenger has accused Greater Anglia of ableism after sustaining injuries while using stairs at Stowmarket station. The lifts, part of a £5.5m upgrade, remain non-operational four months after the footbridge opened to pedestrians.
Jade, a disabled non-binary artist from Suffolk, posted on Instagram on 28 July about dragging themselves up the station stairs. They said the lifts, installed as part of a new stainless-steel footbridge, have never been functional despite the project’s completion in April.
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Greater Anglia told New Civil Engineer the lifts are undergoing final testing and certification. The company said it would confirm an opening date once the process is complete but did not provide a timeline.
Project delays and passenger impact
The £5.5m project replaced an old concrete footbridge with a new modular structure, including lifts, a ramp and improved lighting. Installation took place during a weekend blockade in November 2025, with an expected opening in January 2026.
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Jade said the delays left them with no choice but to use the stairs to catch a connecting train. They described the station’s alternative access route as impractical, particularly when trains arrive with short connection times. The crossing is blocked when trains are at the platform, forcing passengers to use stairs.
“I had to get that train to avoid being fined for being on the wrong train, and I had to get home to my babies as childcare is not something many of us have free access to.”
Jade, disabled non-binary artist
Greater Anglia acknowledged the delays in a statement to New Civil Engineer. A spokesperson said the lifts are in the final stages of testing and certification but did not explain why the process had taken longer than planned.
What happens next
Greater Anglia said it is working with the lift supplier, designers and certification bodies to complete the remaining work. The company said it would provide an update once testing is finished and an opening date is confirmed.
Stowmarket station had no lifts before the upgrade. The new facilities, once operational, will provide step-free access between platforms. Other improvements, including a new accessible ramp and better lighting, are already in use.
Questions this report answers
+Why are the lifts at Stowmarket station still not working?
Greater Anglia said the lifts are undergoing final testing and certification, which is taking longer than planned. The company has not provided a new opening date but says it will confirm one once testing is complete.
+How much did the Stowmarket station upgrade cost?
The project cost £5.5m. It included a new stainless-steel footbridge with lifts, an accessible ramp, improved lighting and other station access improvements.
+What alternatives are there for disabled passengers at Stowmarket station?
The station’s alternative access route involves leaving the platform and crossing a road. Passengers say this is impractical when trains arrive with short connection times, as the crossing is blocked during arrivals.
+When will the lifts at Stowmarket station open?
Greater Anglia has not confirmed an opening date. The company said it will provide an update once testing and certification are complete, which it is working to finish as quickly as possible.
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