Department for Transport

£50m makeover launched as ‘Station Champions’ report calls for improvements for passengers
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date 17 Nov 2009 07:00
source Department for Transport
type Press release

note News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 17 November 2009

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis today launched a new £50m fund for improvements to ten key stations in England as he warmly welcomed the independent Station Champions’ report on the state of facilities for passengers across the country.

He supports the Champions’ call for a comprehensive list of minimum standards for all stations, aimed at improving the daily travelling experience of passengers and attracting more passengers onto the railways.

More than £3bn is already being spent on stations over the next five years, but the Station Champions' report identifies the next ten major stations in need of improvement. Andrew Adonis is today embarking on a whistle-stop tour of these ten stations, which will benefit from the new £50m fund, supplemented by commercial and third party contributions and commitments by train operating companies.

Andrew Adonis said:

"While touring the rail network in April this year, I was struck by the great variation in the passenger facilities at stations. Train travel has improved a good deal in recent years, but more needs to be done to improve conditions and services for passengers at stations.

“I want every station to be a good station - a hub of local community life and somewhere that you wouldn’t mind spending time, with adequate facilities. I support the report's recommendations of minimum standards for stations - classed by size - in terms of information, car and bike parking, facilities and environment. I intend to make these minimum standards a requirement in future rail franchise agreements with train operating companies."

Station Champions Chris Green and Professor Sir Peter Hall will be joining Andrew Adonis on his tour and say in their report:

“Stations cannot be seen in isolation – they are part of the total journey experience.

“Stations are deeply entwined with their local community and effectively act as the gateway to both town and railway. They leave passengers with their lasting impressions of both – a dilapidated station is bad business for both town and railway.

“The last decade has seen the rail industry focus successfully on restoring reliability and investing in a record number of new trains. The next decade should build on this foundation to deliver the total journey experience – but to do this it will have to focus more on its stations.”

The Station Champions' report focuses on achieving:

· an enhanced and consistent level of facilities at each type of station, so passengers can find what they need and know what to expect;

· a greater emphasis on end-to-end journeys, with more attention given to help passengers get to and from the station by bus, bike or car;

· more effective integration of public transport into the planning of local communities.

The Government has today published its initial response to the report and started a consultation with the industry and local Government on how best to implement the recommendations put forward by the Station Champions. Responses are being requested by the end of January.

Notes to Editors

The Champions - Sir Peter Hall and Chris Green - were appointed by Andrew Adonis in May 2009, following his railway tour, to review the condition of stations and to recommend improvements. Sir Peter Hall is Professor of Planning at University College London and President of the Town and Country Planning Association. Chris Green is a non-executive director of Network Rail and a former Chief Executive of Virgin Trains.

The Champions were asked to advise on the minimum levels of service that should be set at stations - ensuring they are appropriate to the stations' passenger flows - so passengers can be confident that stations will meet set standards.

They were also asked to provide advice on how other changes such as 'quick wins', better station management, future franchise agreements, Network Rail initiatives, and longer term investment could be brought about in a way that delivers better stations.

The ten stations being visited today are: Clapham Junction, Barking, Stockport, Manchester Victoria, Preston, Wigan North Western, Liverpool Central, Warrington Bank Quay, Crewe and Luton.

On the ten priority stations, Network Rail will work closely with the Department for Transport to develop a programme of improvements to start as soon as practicable. This work will be funded by Network Rail, third party contributions and through the franchising process. The investment will be subject to a satisfactory business case and the prospect of an adequate financial return.

Other Government initiatives to improve stations include Access for All, in which £370 million has been committed towards improving facilities for disabled passengers, and the National Stations Improvement Plan, which aims to upgrade approximately 150 stations with £150 million of funding.

The Department for Transport also sponsors the Secure Stations Scheme which includes a national accreditation scheme recognising measures to improve station security and provide reassurance to passengers and staff. This new initiative will be a way of bringing all stations to a similar standard.

DfT Press Enquires: 020 7944 4671

Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292

Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000

Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Contacts:

Ben Clifton
Phone: 0207 944 6433
Ben.Clifton@dft.gsi.gov.uk


Ben Wills
Phone: 0207 944 4833
Ben.wills@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Railhub Archive ::: 2009-11-17 DfT-001