Proposals have been submitted for Gatwick Airport station upgrade

GATWICK: Rail connections formed part of the Department for Transport's recent aviation

Network Rail, in partnership with Gatwick Airport Ltd, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnershipand the Department for Transport, has submitted proposals to upgrade Gatwick Airport station.

The proposals aim to reduce congestion and improve passenger experience at the station, which serves 19 million passengers a year. Twenty years ago, the number of passengers was only 7.5 million.

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 £300 million reliability fund and our proposals for Croydon – improve journeys and provide a boost to the local, regional and national economy.”

The proposals were submitted to Crawley Borough Council and focus on reducing crowding at the station, improving passenger flow and providing better connections between the railway station, airport terminals and further travel destinations.

The planned changes would widen platforms 5 and 6 to reduce overcrowding, almost double the size of the rail station concourse and construct eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways to improve accessibility and passenger flow.

Better connections to the south terminal would also occur with improved passenger information as well as the enhancement of a new attractive roof structure.

Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “The new Gatwick station is set to reduce congestion and give passengers a much-improved experience, including a more seamless transition between airport and station. More than a million local commuters and business people also use the station each year and will benefit from this fantastic example of the public and private sector working together to deliver a world class transport hub. 

“The new station also complements the transformation of train services at Gatwick. Later this year trains will start leaving Gatwick for London with tube-like frequency – every three minutes – and new direct services will start to Cambridge and Peterborough for the first time ever.”

The proposals will accommodate forecast rail growth up to 2036.

Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive at Coast to Capital, said: “Gatwick Airport is the most important driver of our regional economy and the railway station is the sixth busiest in the whole of the UK outside London. Investing at Gatwick should be a top priority for the region and the UK economy as a whole. We are delighted to support this project – the new station will benefit passengers and staff at the airport and the many highly productive businesses based in Gatwick and Crawley.”

Crawley Borough Council will determine the planning application in spring 2018 and then funding parties will make a final decision on the project in autumn 2018. Presuming the proposal receives full approval, construction would start in 2019 with project completion scheduled for 2022.

Stephen MacCallaugh, GTR’s Head of Gatwick Express, said: “The growing popularity of Gatwick and its increasing passenger numbers are real positives for the airport and the station. This news highlights plans to significantly enhance the customer experience and ensure the station meets the changing demands of the airport and its customers and it will be greatly welcomed by our passengers and our teams that work at the station and airport.”