TWO senior local politicians visited Port Glasgow Railway Station to mark the completion of the £5m revamp to improve accessibility for passengers.

Work to provide step-free access at the station began last February and has been carried out by Network Rail and main contractor STORY, with a new bridge and lift installed.

It’s now easier for those with limited mobility or travelling with children, luggage, or cycles to move between the platforms.

Greenock Telegraph:

Ronnie Cowan MP and MSP Stuart McMillan took a tour to see the new look and praised everyone involved in the project.

Laura Craig of Network Rail said: “Throughout the project, we’ve appreciated the opportunity to liaise with elected members, Inverclyde Council and Port Glasgow West Community Council who have all helped us make sure the community were kept well informed about the work taking place at the station.

“Thanks also to Transport Scotland, Department for Transport, ScotRail and SPT for their support in making this project complete on time and within budget.”

Mr Cowan said: "This is a major boost for Port Glasgow and Inverclyde as a whole. A huge factor in getting people to use our railways is in making things easy and accessible.

"That means it should be easy for people with a disability or health issue, elderly people and mums and dads and even grandads like me juggling children's buggies.

"The late SNP councillor Jim MacLeod lobbied for these improvements tirelessly as a champion of disability issues and these fantastic improvements at our station form a lasting legacy to Jim.

"I'd like to thank Network Rail and the contractors STORY for delivering this complex series of improvements with the absolute minimum of disruption."

Mr McMillan added: “I’m delighted to see the improvement works at Port Glasgow have been completed, providing step-free access throughout the station to ensure all local commuters can get the most out of Scotland’s railway.

“I want to thank Network Rail and all those involved in bringing this project to fruition – particularly the campaigning efforts of late Councillor Jim MacLeod and the Hurrell family.”