1997-05-21 Regulator calls for greater public accountability from Railtrack (Office of the Rail Regulator)

1997-05-21 Statement by John Prescott, deputy prime minister on this morning's announcement by the Rail Regulator (Department of Transport)

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date 11 June 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Railtrack has given the go-ahead to invest over £12 million to design and construct Britain's largest new station near to Luton Airport.

Luton Parkway Station will be located one mile south of the existing Luton Station on the Midland Mainline. The proposal plans for platforms on all four tracks capable of accommodating 12 car trains and will feature the very best that a new station could provide including :

o a three storey station building with escalators to all levels within the main building
o lifts to all levels within the main building and to platform levels for the mobility impaired
o airport check-in and baggage handling facilities
o car park provision for 1,000 spaces
o canopies on all platforms
o ticket office
o waiting facilities
o toilets
o catering outlets and space for other retail activity

The station will be less that five minutes from the M1 motorway and a dedicated shuttle bus will take passengers the half a mile straight to the centre of the airport.

Announcing the investment, John Curley, Railtrack Midlands Director, said: "This station will be owned, designed, built and funded by Railtrack and we, in partnership with Thameslink and London Luton Airport, will ensure that it is a station to be proud of. An investment of over £12 million highlights Railtrack's commitment to invest in the rail network. The timescales are challenging, but we are commited to providing a fully operational station in less than 12 months."

Services to the new station will be provided by Thameslink Rail Ltd who will also run and manage the station on a day to day basis. Extensive consultation has taken place between Railtrack, Thameslink and London Luton Airport to ensure that the best possible specification for the station facilities can be provided.

Euan Cameron, managing director Thameslink Rail, commented on the announcement: "We are delighted that Railtrack has approved the investment in Luton Parkway Station, and we are pleased to be managing the station on their behalf. Thameslink intends to provide the station with a quality of service that matches the best that Railtrack has provided. Direct services will be provided to several stations in North London, as well as the City of London, East Croydon, Sutton, Wimbledon and Brighton.

John Esam, London Luton Airport finance director, said: "We are delighted that the station will soon be open. We believe that it will make access to the airport a great deal easier and we are convinced that it will promote further passenger growth here."

With financial authority for the project now given it is expected that enabling works will start on the site of the new station in July with the main works beginning in August. Major track work will take place over the Christmas holidays with the station ready for its first train in the spring.

Railtrack owns all of Britain's 2,500 stations, has management responsibility for 14 major stations and leases the remainder to the various train companies for day to day operation. The Luton investment is in addition to Railtrack's recent announcement to spend £1 billion over the next five years regenerating almost all of Britain's 2,500 stations.

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-06-11 RTK-001