A Bolton railway station which has been out of order since March has finally reopened.

The lift at platforms four and five at the station has been out of order since early March while it was being replaced as part of £570,000 upgrade work.

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 needed step-free access travelling from Bolton in the direction of Preston had been advised to travel to Salford Crescent before changing to another train.

Passengers travelling to Bolton from the direction of Manchester were advised to travel only on services arriving at platforms one, two and three if in need of step-free access.

Now, however, the new lift has opened for use – making platforms four and five accessible for step-free access again.

The new lift has a metallic floorThe new lift has a metallic floor (Image: Jack Fifield, Newsquest)

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The new lift, marked with a 2024 installation date, has a weight limit of 33 persons, or 2,500kg, according to a notice inside.

The previous lift had a printed installation date in the 1980s.

However, the disruption is not over yet – with work now set to begin to replace the lift on platforms one to three, affecting those taking trains towards Clitheroe, Blackburn, and Manchester.

Work on the lift at platforms one to three is scheduled to start on Monday, September 16, according to Network Rail.

Those travelling towards Bolton from Cumbria, Blackpool, Preston and Clitheroe who need step-free access should travel to Salford Crescent and then board a service back to Bolton to arrive on platforms four and five, Network Rail says.

Those travelling from Manchester Victoria or Salford Central on a service terminating at Southport can stay on the train, as these are scheduled to arrive on platforms four and five, but those travelling on other services should change at Salford Crescent, Network Rail says.

The entire lift replacement project is expected to be completed in the winter, meaning fully step-free access at Bolton station will have been unavailable for most of the year.

In March, Rebecca Rathore, Network Rail's route strategy director, said: “We’re replacing the lifts at Bolton station to make step-free access more reliable for passengers.

“If you need step-free access during the work I advise you to check before you travel and allow extra time for your journey.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience while this essential upgrade is carried out.”

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