Media centre

Thursday 10 Nov 2011

WORK STARTS TO UPGRADE VAUXHALL STATION

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Work has started at Vauxhall station to provide easier access, build a more spacious concourse and provide better facilities, improving journeys for tens of thousands of passengers who use it every day.

The upgrade will include the installation of four new lifts to provide step-free access between the entrance, subway and all platforms. A new gate line and four additional openings will be created to help ease congestion and there will also be new customer information screens installed.

The staircase which leads to the underground station will be reconstructed to align with the new concourse and new canopies will be built at the front of the station and on all platforms.

The improvement work is being funded through the government's national stations improvement programme and Access For All schemes.

Richard O'Brien, Network Rail's route managing director for Wessex, said: “These improvements will better equip Vauxhall station to handle the increasing number of passengers who use it every day. They will make the station more accessible for everyone, provide better links with the Underground station and ease congestion, all of which will be a huge improvement for passengers.”

Malcolm Page, estate manager for South West Trains said: “The improvements to Vauxhall station will make life easier for everyone to use the train, especially those with reduced mobility or with small children. South West Trains services will remain unchanged and station facilities will be open throughout the work.”

The new concourse is scheduled to open in summer 2012.

Notes to editors:

The station will remain open to passengers during construction, however, access to some areas of the station and facilities may be restricted. Steps will be taken to keep disruption to a minimum:

- Hoardings are being put up along the current concourse to allow the openings into the new lifts and concourse to be formed.

- The staircase and subway which links the station with the underground will close on the 21 November and is not due to open until April 2012. During this time access to the Underground will be limited. Access to the Underground station will be via the bus station only and the exit will be at St George Wharf.

About Access For All:

Vauxhall is one of the 148 stations in Britain to receive funding to provide better access to stations through the government’s £370m Access for All programme.

About National Stations Improvement Programme:

The national stations improvement programme is a £150m Department for Transport backed rail industry scheme to enhance 150 medium sized stations in England and Wales. Typically the initiative responds to the key needs of passengers, to provide safe, secure and comfortable stations, and provide suitable information.