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Notes to editors

The £53m scheme will deliver a range of benefits for passengers including:

· A new platform to address the existing bottleneck in the Gatwick area for services on the Brighton mainline
· Improved passenger circulation on platforms 5 and 6 through the replacement of an existing stairway with an escalator and the installation of a new lift
· Upgrade of the track and signalling to improve performance and reliability of trains passing through and travelling to/from Gatwick Airport.

The improvements to Gatwick Airport station will be funded jointly by Network Rail and Gatwick Airport.

The construction of the new platform and the track improvements will commence in Autumn 2012 and are expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

Funding contributions for the scheme are as follows:
- Network Rail - £44.9m
- Gatwick Airport - £7.9m

About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations (more than any other UK airport) in 90 countries for around 33 million passengers a year on short- and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the award winning Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the majority shareholder.

We are committed to transforming Gatwick, by investing £1 billion into providing better facilities and services for our airlines and our passengers.

This will include:

South Terminal
· £30 million on a new entrance and improved terminal forecourt
· £156 million on replacing pier one and delivering a new baggage handling system, which will transform the check-in experience
· £34 million on a significantly extended and enhanced departure lounge, giving passengers more space and a greater choice of retail outlets
· £40 million on refurbishing and upgrading all the ‘gate rooms’ and reorganising how existing piers are used to promote efficiency
· £47 million on a new, significantly larger central security search area, which will be easier to find and more operationally efficient
· £8 million on a new immigration hall, with a new lay-out and interior and design aimed at reducing waiting times.

North Terminal
· £25 million on a new inter-terminal shuttle station and terminal entrance
· £76 million on extending the terminal building to allow faster check-in, more space, improved wayfinding and more capacity at baggage collection in the arrivals hall
· £17 million on almost 1,200 new short stay car parking spaces next to the terminal

For further information please contact Gatwick Airport Press Office on +44 (0) 1293 505000 or email pressoffice@gatwickairport.com.