Little things mean a lot when it comes to station improvements, as shown by railway stations served by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
The company made a £1.7m investment to improve train journeys at stations served by train operators Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern in London, the South East, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. Another £1.7m has been earmarked for improvements in the coming year.
The improvements include new interactive information screens, extra secure cycle storage, and improved accessibility, and are funded by the annual Minor Works and Station Improvement Funds allocated by the Department for Transport.
Stations north of London seeing improvements include Arlesey, Cuffley, Harlington, Hatfield, Hitchin, Huntingdon, Royston, Sandy, St Neots, and Stevenage.
In London, improvements have taken place at Alexandra Palace, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Coulsdon Town, Drayton Park, Elephant and Castle, Essex Road, Gordon Hill, Hendon, and Reedham.
In the South East, stations receiving improvements include Angmering, Barnham, Chichester, Eastbourne, Gatwick Airport, Hassocks, Haywards Heath, Kingswood, Lewes, Redhill, Rye, Salfords, Sutton, and Three Bridges.
Plans for the coming year include further improvements at Alexandra Palace, Chichester, Elstree and Borehamwood, Eridge, Finsbury Park, Gipsy Hill, Harpenden, Hassocks, Hatfield, Hendon, Highbury & Islington, Hove, Lewes, London, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Moorgate, Old Street, Polegate, Rye, South of London, St Neots, Stevenage, and Welwyn Garden City.
On Sunday, 31st May, train services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway were transferred into public ownership.
Earlier this year, Govia Thameslink Railway used a Model Stations concept to make improvements at Enfield Chase Station.
“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.”
Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer, Govia Thameslink Railway
Responses
The waiting shelter at Rye looks super. A very good effort by the train company.
Govia Thameslink Railway is now Greater Thameslink Railway since it was nationalised in May 31st to be part of Great British Railways.
But I do think that GTR should do more to stations. Including stations that could be upgraded with step-free access including lifts at stations that aren’t step-free to be upgraded with lifts.
Plus with the Class 700 Thameslink trains that will celebrate its 10th birthday since they entered service back in June 20th 2016. And a new railway station to be built at Wixams on the Midland Main Line and Cambridge South railway station to open in just 2 weeks time.
The provision of lifts at stations is becoming ridiculous. It is not necessary at every station. There are alternatives which are cheaper which require less maintenance expenditure. The whole thing is becoming a real racket. The bridges being installed for the lifts are usually visually hideous and completely incongruous with the rest of the station. Where a station is staffed, or on lines with an infrequent service, the light system like that at Exeter St Davids could be adopted.
Might of been better to have spent the £1,700,000 on more revenue protection staff on trains authorised to issue penalty fares … Given fare evasion includes pushing through station gate lines whilst the station staff just look on (Leagrave) and dish out the Penalty Fares for incorrect tickets, no tickets and travelling in 1st class without the correct (or no) ticket. (Rife on Thameslink) The monies raised could then fund more station improvements …
My main bugbear as an older traveller with a bowel problem is toilets ‘out of use’, this can be a real problem especially if the train i have been on had not had a working toilet, or the train was so full that access to thetoilet was blocked by standing passengers