Osborne Rail is one of three Framework Contractors chosen to deliver the Step Free Access Programme for Network Rail 
across the Southern area and are proud to have delivered the first completed project at Kingston station.
On Friday 25th August 2008 Kingston MP Edward Davey accompanied by councillors from the Royal Borough of Kingston, the Kingston Centre Manager, representatives from Network Rail headed by Richard O’Brien, Route Director, representatives from SW Trains headed by Managing Director Stewart Palmer and representatives from many local disability groups as well as Osborne and Stannah who provided the facilities, formally opened the completed facilities. Before, during and after the ceremony the lifts were in constant use by parents with young children in pushchairs, the disabled and elderly persons taking the easier or only route to get to the platforms. The new facilities open up a completely new transport opportunity for those people both travelling to and living in Kingston.
Osborne is heavily involved with the step free access programme, undertaking seven contracts currently from London to the South Coast. The biggest challenge is at Clapham Junction where a contract for £6.5m is underway to install nine new lifts, one to each island platform, complete with modifications to the existing passenger over-bridge.
Paul Williams, Operations Director for Osborne Rail comments that extensive knowledge of many stations gained over the last twenty years, and in particular recently through seven years of working with Network Rail in the Southern Construction Partnership and currently within the Operational Property Framework enables Osborne Rail to offer complete solutions that maximise efficient delivery at minimum cost.
Use of the polystyrene bridge, developed and pioneered by Osborne Rail to allow plant to move from platform to platform across tracks within Tii is one example. Osborne Rail is now looking at innovative use of composite materials within the Step Free Access Programme.