Both lifts at Bolton Station were out of order earlier today leaving trains only accessible via stairs.

One lift at the station, on platforms four and five, has been out of order since mid-March as part of £570,000 upgrade work – with Network Rail saying the lift will be working again in the summer.

This means the only step-free access at the station has been via platforms one, two, and three – served by trains towards Blackburn, Rochdale, Clitheroe, and Manchester – leaving trains departing from platforms four and five, such as those towards Blackpool, Southport, and Windermere, not directly accessible without taking the stairs.

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Passengers who need step-free access travelling from Bolton in the direction of Preston have been advised to travel to Salford Crescent before changing to another train, while passengers travelling to Bolton from the direction of Manchester are advised to travel only on services arriving at platforms one, two and three if in need of step-free access.

However, earlier today the lift on platforms four and five was out of order as well – leading to many having to take the stairs.

Station operator Northern said: “We apologise to customers whose journeys were affected by the broken lift at Bolton station this morning.

“Network Rail had engineers on-site working to fix the problem and the lift was brought back into service by the early afternoon.”

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to our passengers for the disruption caused by the broken-down lift at Bolton station.

“Engineers discovered that the electric control board was broken. This was repaired by early afternoon on Monday.

“Network Rail is investing £570k to replace the lifts at Bolton station.

“Work to the lift for platforms four and five began in March. This work will be completed in the summer, at which point work on the lift to platforms one, two and three will begin.”

After upgrade work on the lift at platforms four and five has been completed, expected this summer, work on the lift to platforms one, two and three will begin – meaning those platforms will only become step-free again in the winter.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.