Work began yesterday (1 Nov) on Gatwick Airport’s huge, modern railway station concourse, as the first train arrived at one of the platforms that has been rebuilt.
The £150m project has seen a variety of changes at the station already this year, despite the earlier lockdown and local restrictions, including the closure of platform 7 and now its return, while demolition work will soon begin on the footbridge and platform 5 and 7, which are now out of service.
All the ongoing work is building to the creation of a much bigger, brighter and better station, with much improved accessibility for passengers, all by 2023.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “I am pleased to see this project reach another important milestone, which will transform this vital transport hub as people return to our railways.
“Once completed, the expanded modern station will be an impressive gateway to Global Britain, improving accessibility and enhancing the passenger experience to and from Gatwick.”
Henry Smith, MP for Crawley, said: “During such dark days for airports and fewer people currently travelling by train due to Covid-19 it may seem strange to celebrate upgrading Gatwick’s rail station but now is the moment to build back better ensuring that as our economy recovers it does so with the infrastructure to support people and businesses. Investing to expand platform capacity and enhance the passenger experience at Gatwick is timely and I welcome this commitment.”
Network Rail Southern Region’s Investment Director Paul Harwood said: “We know that fewer passengers are travelling by train or plane, but we are continuing to invest for the future. By 2023 passengers arriving at Gatwick will see wider platforms, with more space for them, more lifts and escalators and the crowning achievement, a new concourse over some of our tracks. Today marks a big step towards that aim and passengers will see more big changes as the days go by.”
Images: Network Rail
