£53m upgrade for Gatwick Airport station

Upgrades include refurbishment of the concourse area and upgrade of the track and signalling.

Gatwick Airport station is to get a £53m upgrade.



The scheme will deliver a range of benefits for passengers including a new platform to address the existing bottleneck in the Gatwick area for services on the Brighton mainline and improved passenger circulation on platforms five and six through the replacement of an existing stairway with an escalator and the installation of a new lift.

Also, refurbishment of the concourse area to provide better facilities for passengers and improved circulation and upgrade of the track and signalling to improve performance and reliability of trains passing through and travelling to/from Gatwick Airport.



Gatwick has the fastest route by rail into central London from any London airport and Gatwick Airport station was the start or end for more than 11.5 million journeys last year, making it the busiest airport station in Britain and a significant transport hub in the South East.



Work to finalise the design of the scheme will start immediately but the major construction work is not scheduled to start on site until Autumn 2012. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

The improvements to Gatwick Airport station will be funded jointly by Network Rail and Gatwick Airport.

Mark Ruddy, Network Rail’s route director for Sussex, said: "Gatwick relies on rail and this upgrade will make a real difference for passengers."

"By providing a better travelling experience, together with the convenience, safety and environmental benefits associated with travelling by train we hope more people will use the railway to make their journeys to and from the airport."

Further information:
Network Rail