Abstract: A combined stairway and lift installation has a stairway which comprises a stack of horizontally movable step members whereby the stairway is retractable to expose a lift which is installed in a cavity which is covered by the stairway when the latter is extended. Uncovering of the lift allows it to be operated to raise its load carrying platform to the level of the top of the stairway. A chain is anchored by either end in the bottom step member. The chain is led from the anchorage up through the step members, alternately clockwise and counter clockwise around guide rollers mounted in each of the movable step members, clockwise around a guide roller and a motor-driven cog wheel in the top step member, and back down through the movable step members to the other anchorage again alternately clockwise and counter clockwise around further guide rollers mounted in each of the movable step members.