Paddock Wood fully accessible

Paddock Wood station, between Tonbridge and Ashford, has become fully accessible for the first time in its 170-year history. A £1 million investment in two new lifts means the station is step-free from the station entrance to both platforms.

The project was funded from the Department for Transport’s £400m Access for All scheme, which is delivering step-free access at around 150 stations nationwide.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said: “We are investing heavily in modernising our railways to build a stronger economy and a fairer society. Doing our best to help disabled passengers is an important part of this. That’s why we have spent £400m so far on improvements so that more than 70% of journeys now involve step free stations.”