Railtrack plc

Railtrack puts £2.5 million into station security on Connex South Eastern
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date 11 November 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Railtrack is putting £2.5 million into station security on Connex South Eastern. The money, in addition to the on-going multi-million regeneration programme, will be used to improve lighting and install closed circuit television cameras at stations.

Railtrack will work with Connex South Eastern, who will then draw up a hit list of priority stations requiring immediate work, expected to start before the end of the year.

Once installed, the security equipment will be the responsibility of the train operator to use and maintain.

The £2.5 million contribution is part of a nation-wide extra spend of £40 million being handed out by Railtrack. Chris Jago, Director Railtrack Southern said: "Stations are actually a lot safer than many other public places, but recent research has shown us that station security is one of our customers' most important priorities. They want us to put station safety on the fast track, and that is why we are contributing this extra money."

Additionally there is an extra £1.25 million available to Connex South Eastern's parent company Connex Rail for investment in either their South Central or South Eastern franchise.

Connex South Eastern Managing Director Richard Fern said: "We are delighted at Railtrack's substantial financial support towards our ongoing programme of security enhancements at our stations and car parks.

"Our own £4 million investment commitment has already brought security patrols to late night trains and closed circuit television to more than 20 of our stations and car parks. Railtrack's funding contribution will enable us to accelerate and expand the programme of future closed circuit television installations," he said.

Railtrack's research has shown that rail users place the issue of security at the top of the list of things they would like Railtrack to be addressing.

Commenting on this research, Chris Jago said: "Our station regeneration programme has been designed to tackle the problems caused by many years of under-investment, restoring and enhancing Britain's station network. However, we have received the clear message from rail users that, while they understand that there is a long term need to modernise stations, in the short term they want us to give priority to the safety issue. This is what we are now doing by making extra funds available for station safety measures."

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-11-11 RTK-002