The UK The Department for Transport (DfT) announced a GBP 150 million (EUR 167 million) to upgrade Gatwick Airport train station’s facilities. Planned upgrades will include doubling the size of the station concourse, adding 5 new lifts and 8 escalators to improve passenger flow, and widening 2 platforms to reduce overcrowding.
The renovation will be managed by Network Rail, in partnership with DfT. For this project a total GBP 47 million (EUR 52.3 million) will be co-financed. Gatwick Airport Ltd will allot GBP 37 million (EUR 41.18 million) and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, GBP 10 million (EUR 11.13 million).
The improvement works will start in spring 2020 and will take around 2 years to complete.
“The new station will complement the huge improvements to rail services at the airport, which include new fleets of Gatwick Express and Thameslink trains and services that now leave the airport for London every 3 minutes – as frequently as services on the tube,” Stewart Wingate, the CEO of Gatwick Airport said.
The number of people using Gatwick Airport station each year has grown by 6 million since 2010. Currently the station is not designed for the high volume of daily passengers, often carrying bulky luggage.
Currently, 46 million people are using Gatwick Airport every year and 20 million are coming by train.
The renovation will reduce train delays caused by platform overcrowding and congestion, while also improving passenger experience by providing easier connections to other destinations.
Share on:
