*Embargoed until 00:01 on Monday 15 October 2018*
Southeastern is today showcasing the newly upgraded stations at Strood, Snodland and Rochester to mark the first ever #StationsDay, a day which celebrates the £5.2billion investment to regenerate Britain’s rail stations.
These are just some of the hundreds of small and medium sized stations that have been improved across the UK since 2009.
Further private and public investment from the railway is being spent to improve another 178 stations across Britain by the end of 2019.
This includes, Strood where a new station building and footbridge has recently been completed, Snodland where the station building was refurbished and Rochester where an entirely new station was opened in 2015.
At Snodland, National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) investment has meant that passenger numbers have increased by around 30%, as it helped to improve the connectivity between the town centre and station.
Station investment is a central part of the rail industry’s long-term plan to change and improve.
The unprecedented plan details billions of pounds of private and public investment into the railway and includes commitments to spread opportunity and boost local communities.
Working in partnership as one railway, this plan is transforming stations into vibrant community hubs and maximising the economic benefits that the railway delivers for Kent and the Southeastern network.
David Statham, Managing Director, Southeastern said:
“We’re delighted to be playing our part in celebrating the revitalisation of Kent’s stations and the surrounding area. When a station is revamped it stimulates the whole local community and working with our colleagues in Network Rail we are delivering better stations across the region.”
Robert Nisbet, Regional Director of the Rail Delivery Group which represents the rail industry, said:
“Stations are the beating hearts of local communities. Working together in partnership, the rail industry is delivering unprecedented investment to improve these stations as part of our long-term plan to change and improve.”
Rail Minister and Member of Parliament for Orpington, Jo Johnson, said:
“This government is investing in the most significant upgrade of the UK rail network since Victorian times, spending over £48bn over the next five years to upgrade and build brand new stations across the network.
“This is delivering huge benefits for passengers at major stations including Liverpool Lime Street, London Bridge and Derby, as well as investment in five new stations. In July we also announced that we will invest £300m up to 2024 to improve access at selected stations, ensuring our rail network is open to everyone.”
