31.10.19
Grand Central announces further details of £2.6m stations investment
Grand Central Railway Company has outlined further details of a collection of station investment schemes along the North East and West Riding routes.
The company has committed to the communities it serves by investing in improved customer experience on board, online and at stations.
Renovations currently underway, and due to be completed in early 2020, will see improvements made to Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Thirsk, Bradford Interchange, Brighouse, Mirfield and Wakefield Kirkgate.
Plans include making the stations more welcoming and comfortable for customers travelling to and from these destinations.
Some of the investments include a cosmetic refresh for the main concourse at Sunderland station, including decoration, new signage and new staff accommodation.
Hartlepool will benefit from a new customer lounge with wireless charging points and breakfast bar style workstations.
Solar panels and rainwater harvesting will be put to use at Eaglescliffe and Wakefield Kirkgate, along with new First Class and standard class waiting rooms.
Other improvements include car park expansions, electrical vehicle charging points, additional train cleaning services, shelter replacement and improved lighting.
Grand Central, part of the Arriva group, has recently completed a £9m refurbishment programme of its Adelante fleet and been granted access by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate an additional daily return service between Sunderland and London Kings Cross until at least 2021, and new services between Blackpool and London Euston until 2026.
Sean English, chief operating officer at Grand Central, said:
“We are delighted to announce further details of this phase of our major investment programme to improve the station facilities along our routes. It reinforces our commitment to investing in the communities we serve and enhancing facilities for the benefit of current and future customers.”
“It is hugely important to us that our customers enjoy the best possible experience when travelling with Grand Central and that starts at the station. We have listened to our customers and taken on board what they have asked for. Ultimately, we want to look after them at every stage of their journey, offering modern, inviting and accessible facilities at the stations along our routes. It’s about creating spaces that people in communities can enjoy and feel proud of and breathing new life into previously unused areas. “
Work currently underway is being carried out with as little disruption to passengers as possible.
Photo credit: Grand Central