09.04.18
Network Rail submits application for major Gatwick station transformation
A planning application has been submitted for a redevelopment of Gatwick Airport’s station to reduce congestion and improve passenger experience.
The proposals, which were submitted to Crawley Borough Council by Network Rail in partnership with Gatwick Airport Ltd, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and the DfT, will accommodate forecast rail growth up to 2036.
The proposed improvements include:
- Almost doubling the size of the rail station concourse;
- Eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways to improve accessibility and passenger flow;
- Widening platforms 5 and 6 to reduce overcrowding;
- Better connections to the south terminal with improved passenger information;
- An attractive new roof structure.
The station at Gatwick serves up 19 million passengers a year, which is a 7.5 million increase in the last 20 years – making it the sixth busiest railway station in the whole of the UK outside London.
John Halsall, Network Rail manager director for the south east route, said: “The proposals will transform passenger experience, support airport growth and, along with other upgrades of the Brighton Main Line – the £300m reliability fund and our proposals for Croydon – improve journeys and provide a boost to the local, regional and national economy.
“Our proposals for the station are still being developed in detail and the submission of the planning application is an important step forward in this process.”
Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer at Gatwick Airport, suggested that these new changes will complement the station as it will have trains leaving Gatwick for London with ‘Tube-like frequency’ later this year.
The project timeline is as follows:
- Crawley Borough Council will determine the planning application in spring 2018;
- Funding parties will make a final decision on the project in autumn 2018;
- Construction begins in 2019;
- Project completion in 2022.