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Friday 16 Dec 2011

BETTER ACCESS AND A BETTER STATION FOR BROMLEY SOUTH

Region & Route:

| Southern

Work has started to upgrade Bromley South station to improve journeys for thousands of passengers.

The multi-million-pound investment will provide step-free access from the station entrance to the platforms making the railway easier to use for everyone. The station entrance and ticket hall will also undergo a substantial revamp to provide better facilities and reduce congestion at the busiest times of the day.

Bromley and Chislehurst MP, Bob Neill, who ran a campaign calling for step-free access, said: “It has been a hard-fought battle to secure funding for these vital improvements at Bromley South and I am very excited about the work Network Rail has planned for the station.

“Passengers will soon have step-free lift access to all platforms and benefit from modernised station facilities. It is a fantastic result for local train users who campaigned for, and so desperately require, these enhancements.”

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail's route managing director for Kent, said: “The railway from Bromley South provides excellent links for passengers and businesses into the heart of the capital. These improvements are great news for passengers and will make a noticeable improvement to their daily journeys.

"Every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum during construction and we thank passengers in advance for their patience."

Funded through the governments Access for All programme and national station improvement programme, work will include:

- Installing two new lifts from the ticket office to all platforms
- Improving the existing staircases, including new handrails and anti-slip tread.
- Creating a more spacious ticket hall and more contemporary station frontage
- Refurbishing passenger toilets
- Enhancing passenger information and waiting facilities

Vince Lucas, service delivery director, Southeastern, added: "Bromley South is one of the busiest stations in south east London and this work will help provide it with the modern facilities that it needs to continue to grow. More people travel by train than since the 1920s and investment such as this will only help make for a more pleasant environment for passengers using the station. We will work with Network Rail to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum."

It is scheduled for work to be completed by summer 2012.