Media centre

Tuesday 5 Apr 2005

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE FOR FOREST GATE PASSENGERS

Region & Route:

| Southern

Rail passengers using Forest Gate station are now able to sit back and relax, thanks to a new waiting room unveiled this week by Network Rail and train operator ‘one’.  The station improvements, funded by the Strategic Rail Authority, also include a new accessible toilet which will be particulartly beneficial for passengers with disabilities. Jon Wiseman, Network Rail Route Director said: “Getting people from A to B on time is important to the rail industry, but so are station amenities.  Stations are the gateway to travel by rail and form a vital part of the journey experience for passengers. Comfortable stations with modern facilities are an important part of our continued programme to re-build the railway.” Forest Gate station is owned by Network Rail and managed by ‘one’.  Martin Sills, ‘one’ Group Station Manager, added: “The improvements at Forest Gate have greatly enhanced the station environment, creating a warm, comfortable area for passengers to wait for trains. It will be a great benefit to our customers using the station”. Work to install the new facilities at Forest Gate began in October last year and forms part of a national scheme to improve facilities for passengers at 68 stations across the country.  The enhancements vary from station to station and include waiting rooms, shelters, accessible toilets, CCTV and improved customer information systems. The ‘Modern Facilities at Stations’ (MFAS) scheme represents a total investment of           £25 million, of which £500,000 was allocated to Forest Gate station.