Network Rail has announced that work has begun on the new concourse at Gatwick Airport railway station.
The transformation of the station was announced last year. Work at the station will continue until 2023 in stages, one of the platforms which has been rebuilt has already opened with trains now using it.
Now the work has been completed on platform 7, platforms 5 and 6 are now out of service and work to demolish the footbridge will begin soon.
The new platforms 5 and 6 will be wider and brighter and should be completed by May 2022.
Work remodelling the concourse will be carried out over the next three years.
Over the Christmas break, just 2 platforms will be in use with an amended timetable in operation.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “I am pleased to see this project reach another important milestone, which will transform this vital transport hub as people return to our railways.
“Once completed, the expanded modern station will be an impressive gateway to Global Britain, improving accessibility and enhancing the passenger experience to and from Gatwick.”
MP for Crawley Henry Smith visited the construction site today (Monday) and said: “During such dark days for airports and fewer people currently travelling by train due to Covid-19 it may seem strange to celebrate upgrading Gatwick's rail station but now is the moment to build back better ensuring that as our economy recovers it does so with the infrastructure to support people and businesses. Investing to expand platform capacity and enhance the passenger experience at Gatwick is timely and I welcome this commitment.”
Network Rail Southern region's investment director Paul Harwood said: “We know that fewer passengers are travelling by train or plane, but we are continuing to invest for the future. By 2023 passengers arriving at Gatwick will see wider platforms, with more space for them, more lifts and escalators and the crowning achievement – a new concourse over some of our tracks.
“Today marks a big step towards that aim and passengers will see more big changes as the days go by.”
Angie Doll, Managing Director of Southern and Gatwick Express, said: “It's great to see such progress being made at Gatwick station that will make a tremendous difference to customer experience when traveling to and from the airport by rail.
“This significant investment will complement the multimillion-pound scheme of station improvements we're delivering for our passengers across our entire network.”
Martin Harris, Coast to Capital Board Member said: “As part of our Build Back Smarter, Stronger, Greener plan, we are supporting Crawley with a plan to grow and evolve the UK's most COVID-19 impacted town into a more economically diverse and dynamic place. Gatwick is the beating heart of our area and the effects of the pandemic have impacted the aviation sector and supply chains severely. As we look towards recovery, the Gatwick Airport Train Station redevelopment will play a more important role than ever before in providing efficient and safe transport links to London, the coast and international markets. We are pleased to hear that works are continuing safely and look forward to seeing how the improvements will help rebuild the economy.”
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What about adding more extra platforms including 8, 9 and 10 and platform 0 so that it can be used for GWR trains coming from Reading via Redhill. And platforms 6 & 7 as dedicated platforms for Gatwick Express to use as terminus platforms.
And Southern & Thameslink trains to use platforms 1,2 & 3 heading towards London and North including Bedford, Cambridge and Peterborough and 8, 9 & 10 heading South towards Three Bridges, Eastbourne, Hastings and Brighton.