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Thursday 19 Sep 2013

£3.4 million upgrade of Fenchurch Street station begins

Region & Route:

| Southern

National Express train operator c2c and Network Rail have begun a £3.4m joint project to create a new passenger exit at the flagship Fenchurch Street station.

The construction work, which is expected to take around six months to complete, will create a third entrance and exit to the station on Cooper’s Row, at the back of the station. It will give passengers a quicker journey through the station, reducing peak-time congestion both on the platforms and at the current Tower Hill exit.

The station will remain fully operational throughout the works, with two entrances open at all times. The Tower Hill ticket office has been closed during the construction, but extra staff will be available to assist passengers and sell tickets.

Julian Drury, c2c managing director, said: “We know that many passengers find the current station cramped and crowded, so this project will make a real difference. We will keep Fenchurch Street open throughout, but please bear with us while the construction work is underway. We’re sure the end result will show that it has all been worthwhile.”

Richard Schofield, route managing director, Network Rail said, “As Network Rail continues to invest in the future of the railway, it became apparent that busy Fenchurch Street station required some attention. Once complete, these improvements will create a better flow of traffic through the station, reducing commuter congestion at peak times which will allow passengers to enter and exit the station with greater ease.”

Fenchurch Street is the busiest station on the c2c route, with 46,000 passengers from east London and south Essex using the station in the peaks every day.