UK: The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced upcoming renovation works to Gatwick Airport train station. It says it will make 150 million GBP (167 million euros | 188 million USD) available for the works. The funds will go towards upgrades such as 5 new lifts, 8 escalators and widening 2 platforms.

Gatwick Airport Station Upgrades

The renovations will double the size of the station concourse. The plans also envisage widening two platforms and installing five additional lifts and eight escalators. These works will improve passenger flow and reduce overcrowding on the platforms. By addressing the overcrowding issue, the works will also reduce train delays as dwell times will be shorter.

Brand New Trains in Full Operation Across Thameslink Route

The works will benefit both holidaymakers and commuters who travel to Gatwick by train. There are now six million more passengers using Gatwick Airport station compared to 2010, when the government announced the last redevelopment works. 46 million passengers use Gatwick Airport every year. 20 million of them travel to and from the airport by train. The station at the airport simply can’t cope with current passenger numbers, passengers who are also travelling with luggage.

Works Schedule and Funding

Network Rail will work in partnership with the DfT to manage the upgrade works. They will begin in spring 2020 and will take 2 years. The works will be sequenced to ensure minimum disruption to the station’s daily services. Gatwick Airport Ltd and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership are co-funding the project. They are contributing 37 million GBP (41 million euros | 46 million USD) and 10 million GBP (11 million euros | 12.5 million USD) respectively.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

“The UK’s second largest airport has direct rail links to more than 120 destinations and is an important public transport hub.

“We want to see Gatwick Airport’s success continue to flourish and ensure that it is ready for even more passengers in the future. Through this £150 million investment, we will deliver vital upgrades to boost the station’s capacity and provide better, seamless journeys for all.”

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, Gatwick Airport said:

“Gatwick has been transformed in recent years and the redesigned train station will take the airport’s redevelopment to the next level by providing a seamless transition between the airport and the station, more lifts, escalators and a doubling in the size of the concourse.

“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.

“The project is a fantastic example of the public and private sector working together to deliver a world-class transport hub that will comfortably manage the expected growth in air passengers and also encourage people to switch to rail as part of our push to get more people to travel to the airport by public transport.”

source= https://railway-news.com/dft-150-million-gbp-for-gatwick-airport-station-upgrades/