Media centre

Tuesday 2 Mar 2010

HUYTON GETS £800,000 MAKEOVER

Region & Route:

Passengers are set to benefit from improvements at Huyton station thanks to a joint investment of £835,000 from Network Rail, train operator Northern Rail and Merseytravel.

The work, which is about to start, is part of the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) initiative, backed by the Department for Transport, to bring about a noticeable and lasting improvement in the environment at stations.

Network Rail route director Jo Kaye said: “This work is made possible because of a successful industry partnership, which aims to bring the best to passengers.  Network Rail and Northern will continue to work hard on bringing the improvement work at the station to fruition and develop further NSIP plans across the North West.”

Lee Wasnidge, area director, Northern Rail said: “This will deliver a brighter, more comfortable and secure station environment for passengers at Huyton.  We look forward to delivering similar benefits for passengers at other stations across the network through our partnership with Network Rail and NSIP.”

Transport Minister Chris Mole added: "This upgrade will result in much-improved facilities for rail passengers travelling through Huyton station, and I’m pleased that my department is playing such a key role in funding this scheme.

"The Government is committed to increasing capacity on the rail network and better stations are crucial to improve the experience of passengers as services increase.

"We are dedicated to transforming stations throughout the country - increasing security, improving disabled access, modernising facilities, lengthening platforms and helping passengers with their journeys."

Glazing in the station building will be renewed and the booking office waiting area will be refurbished; the canopies over the platforms and buildings will be replaced; there will be a new accessible toilet; the platforms will get new seating, and a tactile surface will be laid to let visually impaired passengers know when they approach the platform edge.

The station subway will be repainted and the floor resurfaced, signs throughout the station will be renewed, there will be a new CCTV system and the external lighting will be refurbished.

The work, which is being project managed and delivered by Network Rail through its contractor J Murphy & Sons, is due to be completed in the next three months.