Rail passengers are set to benefit from a multi-million-pound overhaul at a Kent station which took more than a year to complete.

Network Rail has rolled out several upgrades at Herne Bay station in a £6 million project, which improves disabled access.

The additional two new lifts and a footbridge, the operator says, will help wheelchair users, those with limited mobility and people travelling with heavy luggage, bicycles and pushchairs.

The project, which got underway in November 2023, involved the installation of two new 16-person elevators.

Each provides step-free access to each platform from the station’s main entrance to the platform level.

It has been carried out in partnership with the Department for Transport’s ‘Access for All’ scheme.

The government department has financed the £6 million project with work then carried out by Network Rail and its contractors.

David Davidson believes it will prove beneficial for many of the station's passengers.

The operator's route director for Kent said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to open our latest Access for All scheme at Herne Bay.

“It will provide step-free access to those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs or heavy luggage to be able to reach their trains.

“We want our railway to be as inclusive as possible and Access for All is opening up travel by rail to more and more people.

"Herne Bay is just the latest station to be completed with more to come across our network over the next few years."

Meanwhile, Southeastern’s managing director, Steve White, added: "It’s great to see the lifts now open for our customers at Herne Bay, ensuring more people can travel independently and with confidence.

"The timing is perfect with Easter and the busy summer season ahead for this popular station.

“This scheme supports the strong increase in the number of passengers with accessibility needs choosing rail travel. Encouragingly, the majority are now travelling as turn-up-and-go customers, without needing to pre-arrange assistance."

Herne Bay is the latest Kent station to benefit from accessibility upgrades as part of the scheme, following upgrades at Canterbury East in August 2021, Chatham in Nov 2022 and Bexley in April 2023.

The Bromley Shortlands AfA scheme is also set for completion this spring.