In 2018 the Government fined Govia Thameslink Railway £15 million for its unacceptable performance in delivering for passengers. This money has been reinvested in a Passenger Benefit Fund to provide tangible improvements for passengers.
A large portion of this fund has been invested in improving stations in Croydon South in order to benefit passengers. This has been specifically allocated after I joined other MPs in calling for the funds to be focused on making travel better for passengers.
Almost 90 per cent of the improvements will be completed in April this year, with the remainder being delivered in September.
A full breakdown of stations and how they will benefit is:
Coulsdon South – £80,000 invested
- Canopy over ticket machine
- Glass panelling in ticket office
- Automatic doors for ticket office, draft excluders on doors to the platform
- Seating for waiting area
- New tap for Gents toilets
- Heating for waiting room
- New screen for booking hall
- Additional bike parking
- Defibrillator
Coulsdon Town – £30,000 invested
- Seating
- Windshield in booking hall
- Canopy for ticket machine
- Customer Information System
Kenley – £30,000 invested
- Seating for platforms 1 and 2
- Waiting shelter
Purley – £50,000 invested
- Waiting shelter
- Toilet improvements
- Landscaping – planters
- New gate in safety fence
- Defibrillator
Purley Oaks – £30,000
- Seating
- Landscaping – planters
- Permanent signage to bus replacement buses
Riddlesdown – £80,000
- Seating and refurbishment for waiting room
- Seating for platform 1
- Shelter
- Seating
- Toilet improvments
Sanderstead – £80,000
- Seating
- Improved heating for waiting area
- Shelter frontages on platforms 1& 2
- Toilet improvements
- Canopy over ticket machines
- Defibrillator
Waddon – £30,000
- Decoration for booking hall
- Customer Information System
- Seating
- Canopy over ticket machine
This is fantastic news for passengers. When GTR were forced to pay £15 million for their abysmal service a few years ago, I was clear to the Government that this was money that ought to be spent making the lives of passengers better.
The Government’s improvements will improve the quality of life for passengers, as well as provide important additions like defibrillators and new Customer Information Systems to keep passengers updated. I am especially pleased to see that these improvements have been delivered despite the difficulties from Covid, and will be implemented by the time life returns to normal.
