A multi-million pound project has been launched at Carshalton railway station in a bid to improve accessibility for commuters.

The project aims to enable passengers with mobility issues to access the station instead of travelling to Sutton station – which is step-free – nearly two miles away.

Announced on September 26, it will begin at the end of October this month and be completed next summer.

Construction traffic will need access to the station, and therefore parking along Station Approach will be suspended for “safety reasons” during the works.

Station Approach, at the junction with West Street, will also be closed so as to allow space for engineers and equipment.

Hodan Hassan, Network Rail’s sponsor for the project, promises that train travel will be “much easier for everyone” once the project is finished.

This is particularly for those with mobility issues, the elderly, and parents with young children.

He said: “There will be some impact for passengers, including the temporary closure of parking bays, while we complete the work.

“So I’d like to thank people in advance for bearing with us while we deliver this much-needed upgrade.”

The Department for Transport’s Access for All programme, which aims to improve step-free access across rail networks in the UK, helped deliver the project.

Similar schemes are being proposed at Coulsdon South and Selhurst train stations, a Network Rail spokesman said.

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake said: “It is excellent to see that work to make Carshalton Station accessible to all will finally begin at the end of October.

“Once the works are complete it will be considerably easier for disabled passengers, as well as those with buggies, luggage or mobility problems, to make use of our station."