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Friday 7 Feb 2020

Network Rail reveals plans to upgrade Reigate station and is looking for your views

Region & Route:

Network Rail is inviting everyone to have their say on new proposals to upgrade Reigate station.

The ideas include a new platform able to accommodate 12-carriage trains terminating at the station and turning back towards London. The aim is to provide more capacity, a more reliable service and improved connections, potentially with Thameslink services to London Bridge and beyond.

Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway will host a series of information events across the Reigate area to give members of the public the opportunity to have their say on its plans and potential service alterations at Reigate and other local stations including Earlswood, Salfords and Horley.

Events will be held on the following dates:

• Monday 24 February, 6-9pm, St Mary’s Reigate, 13 Chart Ln Reigate, RH2 7BW
• Tuesday 25 February, 4-8pm, Three Central (The Sturgeon Room), 3 London Road Redhill, RH1 1LY
• Wednesday 26 February, 4-8pm, Reigate Community Centre (room F3), 53 High Street Reigate Surrey, RH2 9AE
• Thursday 27 February, 4-8pm, Reigate Community Centre (room F3), 53 High Street Reigate Surrey, RH2 9AE
• Friday 28 February, 4-8pm, Day Space Reigate, 57 Albert Road North Reigate, RH2 9EF
• Saturday 29 February, 11am-3pm, St Mark’s church, Alma Road Reigate, RH2 0DA

From 24 February to 6 April members of the public will also be able to view and comment on the proposals online at www.networkrail.co.uk/reigate

John Halsall, managing director, Network Rail Southern region, said: “A new platform at Reigate would not only allow longer trains to stop at the station for the first time, but could also create the potential for direct connections to London Bridge, and help to speed up services across the region. Many of the benefits of these plans will primarily be enjoyed by Reigate and the surrounding areas, but by creating a dedicated ‘turn-back’ platform we can also create space for more services to run on the Brighton Main Line.”

Cllr Richard Biggs, Executive Member for Planning Policy at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, said: “I would encourage everyone to have a look at the consultation information to see what this proposal means for you. If you live around Reigate Station, catch the train to or from Reigate, or use other local stations - like Merstham, Earlswood, Salfords or Horley – it could affect you. This is a great opportunity to get involved and let Network Rail know what you think.”

Crispin Blunt, Member of Parliament for Reigate, added: “Passenger use has grown relentlessly at Reigate Station and I am pleased that Network Rail has responded with this consultation on a detailed proposal for a much needed and long awaited improvement plan which will add vital capacity and enable Reigate passengers to travel directly to London Bridge”

Keith Jipps, GTR’s infrastructure director, said: “We welcome these proposals, which would greatly improve train capacity, reliability and travel opportunities for our passengers at Reigate. I encourage anyone who uses the station to come along to one of our public events, study the plans and let us know what you think.”

The proposed station upgrade would extend and widen the existing platform 2 and lay track to create a new platform to accommodate services on the Brighton Main Line from London turning back at Reigate, creating capacity for additional services.

The longer platform would also allow Thameslink trains of up to 12 carriages to stop at the station for the first time, reducing journey times by removing the current need for trains to split and join at Redhill. This would, subject to consultation, give a train operator the potential to introduce direct London Bridge services. 

The new platform would be built in the area occupied by the existing station car park, which would be relocated, providing an opportunity to build a larger, improved car park, new access roads and additional designated parking bays.

The proposals form part of Network Rail’s long-term plans to run more reliable and more frequent services on the Brighton Main Line and its branch lines and are currently unfunded.