CHANGES made to the signalling system are not going to be used to allow trains to stop on the north side of Montrose railway station.
Improvement work was carried out by Network Rail over four weekends in January, along with signalling enhancements.
The railway signal boxes at Montrose South and at Usan were closed and the Montrose North signal box was reopened.
The creatio
n of a new loop off the line on the outskirts of Montrose is to allow passenger trains to get past long freight traffic.
But the changes were also supposed to allow northbound trains to switch tracks and stop on the town side of the station.
The only means of crossing the platform at present is a steep, staircase over the track – which makes it impossible for disabled travellers to cross the line and extremely difficult for those with mobility problems or pushchairs.
A spokesman for Network Rail said the work had been finished and the facility was now in place to make it possible for trains to switch tracks and stop on the north platform. He said it would not be on the timetable and the decision about whether to use it was down to the train operators.
A Scotrail spokesperson said it was not possible to rework the timetable in order to allow trains to call at the town-side platform but added that it would be reviewing the situation.
The spokesperson said: "We assist wheelchair users who wish to travel to Montrose Station. We apologise for any inconvenience to customers and plans for improvements are underway."
She added that disabled customers who require assistance should contact ScotRail's Assisted Travel Helpline on 0800 912 2 901 or visit www.scotrail.co.uk and click on Disabled Assistance.
A new passenger footbridge with two lifts are scheduled to be in place by the end of 2010 or the start of 2011.
