Helen Maguire MP praises Leatherhead Access For All opening as “crucial step” in campaign for greater accessibility on Surrey trains

Epsom & Ewell’s Liberal Democrat MP, Helen Maguire, has hailed a £6.2 million infrastructure boost for Leatherhead station, but insists South Western Railways (SWR) must “increase the frequency of the Waterloo service back to pre-Covid levels”

Leatherhead station officially marked the opening of their new ‘Access For All’ improvements after months of construction works.

The £6.2 million investment from the Department for Transport includes two lifts and a new footbridge, making it easier for elderly and disabled passengers to use SWR and Southern rail services running through Leatherhead station.

Helen Maguire MP, who cut the ribbon to officially mark the Access For All bridge open, says the improvements are “absolutely vital” and ensure that Leatherhead station is delivering for more passengers, regardless of their needs.

Whilst she praised the opening as a “crucial step” towards greater accessibility, she claims all aspects of rail travel must improve to make it truly accessible for all, including returning train frequency to pre-Covid levels.

In Epsom & Ewell, the number of SWR services running to and from Waterloo station has halved since 2020, with no update on when those services will increase, despite the population of Epsom and Leatherhead increasing in recent years.

Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire said:

“I’m delighted that Leatherhead has become the latest station in my constituency with step-free access. These improvements are absolutely vital for our town, and a crucial step in making rail travel more accessible to my constituents regardless of their need.

“However there is still so much more to be done, from the Government, and the rail companies themselves to ensure that rail transport truly is accessible to all.

“We must address the shortage of blue badge parking spaces across our stations, and we must also ensure that rail tickets are user-friendly for those with visual impairments.

“South Western Railways should also increase the frequency of the Waterloo service back to pre-Covid levels to ensure that passengers are not overcrowded.

“With SWR the first rail company to fall under nationalisation, customers across Epsom & Ewell will be expecting significant improvements to our service, and delays to the Arterio rollout and extortionate ticket price rises are a worrying start. I will keep campaigning to ensure that rail passengers in Epsom, Ewell, Ashtead and Leatherhead get a fair deal.”