Press release -
Heritage makeover for another Great Northern station
Great Northern and the Railway Heritage Trust today unveiled their £64,000 heritage makeover of Downham Market station with local MP Elizabeth Truss.
The Grade II listed station has been restored and painted in the distinctive red, blue and white livery of the former Network Southeast brand, first launched in 1986.
Great Northern Passenger Services Director Stuart Cheshire said:
“Downham Market is now the second of our Norfolk stations to undergo a heritage refresh after King’s Lynn station had a 1950s inspired makeover in 2014. Once again, I think the results look fantastic and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved here with the Railway Heritage Trust.”
Chris Green of the Railway Heritage Trust said:
"The Railway Heritage Trust is proud to have been a contributor to the imaginative upgrading of Downham Market station. The improvement works have blended its Victoria heritage with modern waiting rooms and toilets, and a touch of its colourful Network Southeast heritage."
Elizabeth Truss MP said:
“I am delighted to see the investment in the station. This is a beautiful building, welcoming rail travellers to the Downham area. With passenger numbers increasing, and South West Norfolk proving to be an extremely attractive location for business and home owners, I am sure the refurbished heritage look will prove to be a great success.”
The refresh involved close cooperation with West Norfolk Council and the Fen Line Users' Association and has included painting the booking hall, platform canopies and waiting facilities as well as restoring the booking hall flooring and installing heritage-style benches on the platforms.
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Great Northern has invested £53,000 and the Rail heritage Trust £11,000.
For more information email press.office@gtrailway.com or call 0203 750 2031
Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
Thameslink – services between Bedford and Brighton, Luton/St Albans and Sutton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks
Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn
Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)
Gatwick Express – Fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
GTR is now the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff: GTR carries about 326 million passenger journeys per year, employs around 6,500 people and generates annual passenger revenues of approximately £1.3bn.
The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.
southernrailway.com, gatwickexpress.com, thameslinkrailway.com greatnorthernrail.com