St Margaret’s train station could get step-free access following a feasibility study getting the go-ahead.

The station is currently defined as “inaccessible” and the platforms can only be reached via steps.

On its website, Network Rail advises: “St Margaret’s is an inaccessible station.

“Wheelchair users are advised to use either Richmond or Twickenham stations.”

As well as this restriction, passengers living on Amyand Park Road, many of whom live parallel to the Twickenham bound platform, have to walk the length of the road to enter the station.

The Leader of the council and the cabinet member for highways and street scene met with Network Rail and agreed to carry out the study to assess the potential costs of adding step-free access.

The study will take place later this year.

Councillor Peter Buckwell, cabinet member for highways and street scene, described St Margaret’s as “one of the key local stations in the borough”.

He said: “Thousands of people use the station every day to commute into London or beyond.

“In today’s society it is unacceptable to have a train station that isn’t open to all.”

He said Network Rail had no budget to cover St Margaret’s, adding: “Therefore, we have agreed to fund a feasibility study to look at the possibility of providing step-free access.”

St Margaret’s and North Twickenham Lib Dem Councillor Alexander Ehmann said he was “surprised and delighted” about the council’s decision.

Cllr Ehmann asked whether any work, “including enabling funds”, had been done to improve access at St Margaret’s and Hampton Wick stations in January at a council meeting.

Cllr Buckwell said no work had been carried out and that it was an “aspiration” to provide step-free access but that Network Rail did not have the funding, adding the council would continue to lobby for it. He also said any accessibility work would be the “responsibility of network rail”.

Cllr Ehmann said the accessibility improvements at St Margaret’s are “much-needed”.