Plans to revamp a railway station were withdrawn 48 hours after a weekly newspaper pointed out disabled access would not be improved as a result.

Network Rail withdrew its proposals for Reading West station after the Reading Chronicle splashed on disability campaigners’ disappointment at the blueprints.

The rail operator had been due to get the green light for the£650,000 facelift by Reading Borough Council, but pulled its plans out just three days before a decision was due to be made.

The scheme would have seen a footbridge linking the station’s two platforms rebuilt, but no lift for disabled passengers.

Network Rail said building such a lift would have seen the project’s costs soar to £1.5m.

Chronicle editor Lesley Potter welcomed the news.

She said: “If our reporter Chris Anderson had not been tipped off at a local neighbourhood meeting, the revamp would have gone ahead as scheduled.

“The current station access has a ramp, but anyone in a wheelchair would need the biceps of a Paralympian to get up it, so the fact that Network Rail is reconsidering its plans is excellent news.

“This is an example of proper campaigning journalism where you have to make contacts and go to community meetings to dig out the best stories.

“You cannot get those stories sat behind a screen. This is exactly the type of expose that makes the local print media so important for our communities.”

A Network Rail spokesperson told the Chronicle: “We have been working closely with the council on our planning application for improvement work at Reading West station and have listened to their views with regard to accessibility.

“As a result, we have withdrawn our existing planning application to look further at diversity issues and to establish whether our work as part of the Great Western electrification programme could fit into wider plans to improve accessibility at the station in the long-term.”