Passengers across London and the South East are set to benefit from a new wave of station upgrades, as £1.739 million in funding has been secured to enhance accessibility, safety, and passenger experience across the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) network.
The investment, part of the Minor Works Fund and Station Improvement Fund, follows a successful year of enhancements across GTR’s 236 stations. The operator, which runs Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express, will deliver 51 new projects in 2024/25, ranging from heritage-style shelters to advanced CCTV systems.
The upgrades are designed to make stations more inclusive and user-friendly. Highlights include:
- Touch-screen information boards and interactive journey planners
- Improved wheelchair access at Downham Market and Hitchin
- Changing Places facility design at Peckham Rye
- Secure bike parking at Chichester, accessible via key fob
- Improved rail replacement facilities at Royston
The network will also see the installation of 10 new 3D maps at key stations including Bedford, St Albans City, and Eastbourne, helping passengers navigate large stations more easily.
To improve safety, CCTV systems will be upgraded at 20 stations based on crime data. Meanwhile, access to a nearby retail park will be introduced at Luton Airport Parkway, and a second entrance is being prepared at Elephant and Castle as part of wider redevelopment.
Chief Customer Officer for Govia Thameslink Railway, Louis Rambaud, said:
“These funds help us to deliver our goal of creating great journeys every day.
“While we have major projects under way, including introducing digital signals and renovating our fleet of Electrostar trains, these smaller schemes also go a very long way for the passengers who use our stations every day.
"We take pride in the environments in and around our stations, and want them to be welcoming, safe and comfortable for all.
“I’d like to thank our passengers and station teams who tell us about the ways we can make each journey even just a little bit better than the last.”
The upgrades build on last year’s success, which included the rollout of British Sign Language-enabled departure boards at major stations like Brighton and Gatwick Airport—making travel more accessible for passengers with hearing loss.
The improvements reflect GTR’s ongoing commitment to delivering a better, more inclusive railway experience. By aligning upgrades with existing capital projects, the operator is ensuring value for money while enhancing the day-to-day journeys of millions of passengers.
Image credit: iStock
