#StationsDay celebrates landmark investment in GTR’s train stations

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is today showcasing the recently upgraded station at Bognor Regis as well as improvements made at Stevenage, Newhaven Town, Farringdon, Cuffley and Hornsey in the past year to mark the first ever #StationsDay, a day which celebrates the £5.2billion investment to regenerate Britain’s rail stations.

These are just some of the hundreds of small and medium sized stations that have been improved across the UK since 2009.

Further private and public investment from the railway is being spent across the UK to improve another 178 stations by the end of 2019.

In a raft of changes valued at £8m over 12 months, GTR has made station access easier for passengers with mobility needs, improved cycle parking at 21 stations, and doubled the number of car parks featuring easier-to-use automatic number plate recognition.

And over the next 12 months, GTR will work on upgrades at: Eastbourne (due this autumn), St Albans City, Elstree & Borehamwood, Welwyn Garden City, Knebworth, Tulse Hill and stations along the Northern City Line into Moorgate.

GTR's total investment in stations over its seven year franchise is valued at £50m.

Patrick Verwer, Chief Executive Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:

“We’re delighted to be playing our part in celebrating the revitalisation of our stations. When a station is revamped it stimulates the whole local community and working with our colleagues in Network Rail we are delivering better stations across the region.

“We’re investing £50m improving stations for our passengers. Last year GTR made improvements to the value of £8 million and a further £15 million is committed for next year.”

Station investment is a central part of the rail industry’s long-term plan to change and improve.

The unprecedented plan details billions of pounds of private and public investment into the railway and includes commitments to spread opportunity and boost local communities.

Working in partnership as one railway, this plan is transforming stations into vibrant community hubs and maximising the economic benefits that the railway delivers.

Robert Nisbet, Regional Director of the Rail Delivery Group which represents the rail industry, said:

“Stations are thebeating hearts of local communities. Working together in partnership, the rail industry is delivering unprecedented investment to improve these stations as part of our long-term plan to change and improve.”

Rail Minister Jo Johnson said,

“This government is investing in the most significant upgrade of the UK rail network since Victorian times, spending over £48bn over the next five years to upgrade and build brand new stations across the network.

“This is delivering huge benefits for passengers at major stations including Liverpool Lime Street, London Bridge and Derby, as well as investment in five new stations. In July we also announced that we will invest £300m up to 2024 to improve access at selected stations, ensuring our rail network is open to everyone.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• Bognor Regis’ refurbishment, celebrated earlier this year, has allowed the station to act as a catalyst for the revitalisation of the town with space for a creative digital hub with ultra-fast internet connect for start-up businesses located in part of the station
• Over the next 12 months, GTR will work on upgrades at Eastbourne (due shortly), St Albans City, Elstree & Borehamwood, Welwyn Garden City, Tulse Hill and stations along the Northern City Line.
• Accessibility improvements have been made and, at smaller stations, better waiting facilities and booking halls delivered.
• The number of car parks now featuring the easier-to-use automatic number plate recognition system has almost doubled with an additional 22 now in place.
• GTR has improved cycle parking at 21 stations (£1m investment)
• There has been a major investment in customer information and ticket machines at London Victoria
• London Blackfriars was completely rebuilt for 2012 as part of the Thameslink Programme and features the world's largest solar bridge

The national picture

• The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) brings together the companies that run Britain’s railway into a single team with one goal - to deliver a better railway for you and your community.
• £5.2bn will be invested in stations across the UK as part of the rail industry’s long term plan to change and improve which can be read here.
• There are over 2,500 stations in the UK
• The top 20 stations each have over 60,000 entries and exits each day
• Busiest station is London Waterloo with over 250,000 entries and exits each day
• Over 150 stations have more than 10,000 entries and exits each day
• Over 85% of the population live within five kilometres of a railway station
• Recent research by the Rail Industry Association (RIA) recent study ’Value of Rail’ (Feb 2018) also showcased that station retailers and caters sold £2.3 billion of goods and services in 2016 and is associated with 27,600 jobs.
• £36m has been invested in station improvement projects across the country as part of the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) over the last two years.
• It has been estimated that the value of the railways to our economy is £10.4 billion a year with stations being essential to realising this value.

Figures from the Steer Davies Gleave/RDG report