Fears that work to provide access by lift to all three platforms at Lichfield Trent Valley railway station would be delayed until beyond 2020 have finally been dispelled. In a letter to Michael Fabricant, Paul Maynard, the rail minister, has said that work will commence next year and be completed by 2019 at the very latest.

Michael Fabricant says: “I am delighted with this news. Disabled access – and access for those with babies and luggage – at Lichfield Trent Valley has been a long campaign of mine and I have raised it several times in the House of Commons.

“There was a very real fear that the Autumn Statement a couple of weeks back would not have provided the Department of Transport with the funds needed to undertake this work and we were all holding our breath. But the Treasury have come through and I hope that the construction will all be completed in 2018. It will involve two lifts: one at the north platform and one at the south platform both linking to the overhead cross-city line platform.

“It makes a great Christmas present from the Treasury and the Department of Transport to the people of Lichfield.”

Photograph shows Michael pointing out the stairs to the overhead platform.