Press release —
Small station improvements mark big £3.4m investment to improve train journeys
A raft of small improvements across railway stations in London, the South East, along with Beds, Herts and Cambs have been completed by train operators Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern.
More than £1.7 million has been invested into projects improving stations across the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern network in the past year, with an additional £1.7 million secured for future improvements in the coming year.
Passengers will have noticed new interactive information screens, more secure cycle storage and improved accessibility at stations across the network from Rye to Royston and everywhere in between.
Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer at GTR, which operates the three train brands, said: “While these changes may seem modest on their own, it’s the little touches at our passengers’ local stations which will be noticed the most.
“Things like information screens in the right places, better access for those who need it, and our work to encourage sustainable transport for the ‘last mile’ all add up to something much greater than the sum of its parts.
“Having completed 60 projects in the past year, this continued investment delivers tangible benefits to commuters, leisure travellers and visitors alike, and we’re looking forward to building on this in the coming year.”
The annual Minor Works and Station Improvement Funds, allocated by the Department for Transport, are dedicated to enhancing the station environment with improvements which make travel easier for passengers.
Highlights from the 2025/26 schemes:
North of London
- New and improved information screens at
- Sandy
- Hitchin
- Hatfield
- Huntingdon
- Improved seating at
- St Neots
- Harlington
- Huntingdon
- Cuffley
- Interactive information screen installed at Stevenage
- A new rail replacement facility at Royston
- CCTV renewals at various stations
- New, more secure, cycle hub at Arlesey
London
- New and improved information screens at
- Drayton Park
- Essex Road
- Alexandra Palace
- Gordon Hill
- Interactive information screens installed at
- City Thameslink
- Blackfriars
-
· Station redecorations at
- Reedham
- Alexandra Palace
- · Accessibility improvements at Hendon
- · Improved seating at Coulsdon Town
- · Ticket office relocation at Elephant and Castle to improve visibility for passengers amid redevelopment of the wider area
South of London
- New and improved information screens at
- Eastbourne
- Sutton
- Redhill
- Salfords
- Gatwick Airport
- Accessibility improvements at
- Hassocks
- Rye
-
· Station redecorations at
- Haywards Heath
- Barnham
- Kingswood
- Rye
- Redhill
- Three Bridges
- Improved seating at Angmering
- New, more secure, cycle hub at Chichester
- Heritage waiting shelter installed at Lewes
Across the network, CCTV provision has been improved based on crime data and more detailed 3D maps of stations have been produced to improve station accessibility, helping people plan their journeys not just between stations but through stations.
Plans for 2026/27:
North of London
- Improved customer information screen provision at Finsbury Park to better reflect station usage
- Design study for accessible toilet at St Neots following feedback
- A new link walkway between Luton Airport Parkway station and Luton Retail Park
- Additional information screens at Stevenage to provide key messaging and promote safe travel habits
- New online 3D station maps at:
- Luton
- Harpenden
- Hatfield
- Welwyn Garden City
London
- Design study for accessible toilet at Alexandra Palace following feedback
- An enhanced and accessible walking route in the station car park at Hendon
- Improved train service information in London Underground booking halls at
- Moorgate
- Old Street
- Highbury & Islington
- New online 3D station maps at
- Elstree and Borehamwood
- Gipsy Hil
South of London
- An enhanced and accessible walking route in the station car parks at:
- Hassocks
- Rye
- A new heritage style waiting shelter at Lewes
- New waiting shelters at Polegate
- New online 3D station maps at
- Hove
- Eridge
- Chichester
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For more information, contact the press office on 0203 750 2031.
GTR
GTR operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
- Thameslink – cross-London services between Bedford/Peterborough/Cambridge and Brighton/Horsham/East Grinstead, and between Luton/St Albans and Sutton/Wimbledon/Rainham; plus services between London 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
www.southernrailway.com, www.thameslinkrailway.com, www.gatwickexpress.com, www.greatnorthernrail.com
