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Thursday 11 Sep 2014

Baroness Kramer visits improvement work at Hatfield station

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

First Capital Connect, Network Rail and Hertfordshire County Council welcomed the Minister of State for Transport Baroness Kramer to Hatfield station on Thursday September 11 for a tour of the improvement work.

A new £2.5m footbridge with lifts has been installed by Network Rail through funding from the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.

A new three-deck multi-storey is being constructed by First Capital Connect, which has been designed to be sympathetic to the existing station and surrounding buildings. It incorporates traditional brick arches and a mesh cladding which reflects the ornamental ironwork of the gates of neighbouring Hatfield House.

The existing station will also be expanded with a second entrance being installed and two new retail spaces alongside the existing café. Like the car park, the station building will be finished in a manner that is sympathetic to the surrounding buildings. External features include traditional brick walls, stone parapets and a sloping roof with grey clay tiles. The car park and station extension when complete will have cost £6.8m.

When the multi-storey opens in October 2014, Hertfordshire County Council will begin converting the south car park into a bus-rail interchange with six dedicated bus stops, a taxi rank and cycle racks with space for approximately 200 bikes. In addition, this part of the scheme will include significant improvements to the main A1000 Great North Road, helping to improve pedestrian and cyclist access.

Transport minister Baroness Kramer said: “Better station facilities make a huge difference to people’s journeys. We recently announced £100m for station improvements around the country, and a further £100m to extend the Access for All programme, which will have delivered step-free routes at more than 150 stations around the country by 2015.

“Two million people use Hatfield station every year – a huge increase since it was built in 1850. The improvements we are making will ensure our 19th century stations can serve the needs of 21st century passengers. Over the next five years, £38bn is being invested in the national network. That means more trains, seats and quicker, more reliable journeys for passengers.”

Phil Verster, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “The improvements we are making to a number of stations in Hertfordshire will provide passengers with even more accessible journey options. The work we have completed at Hatfield will make a big difference to passengers, especially those with reduced mobility or with small children, and is part of our ongoing investment to build a better railway for passengers.”

First Capital Connect, customer service director, Keith Jipps, said: “This is a real transformation for Hatfield Station and we are pleased with the progress made as we enter the final stage of the refurbishment. Once complete in October, the improvements will give the town a station to be proud of.”

Terry Douris, Hertfordshire County Council's cabinet member for highways, said: “This scheme is delivering some huge improvements to the facilities for rail users at Hatfield and we are delighted to be working in partnership on the project. We are now looking forward to starting work on the new bus interchange and highway developments that will complete the transformation of the area."