Manchester wins share of station improvement fund

MANCHESTER’s Victoria station, Congleton, Guide Bridge, Sandbach and Todmorden stations are all to gain improvements as part of the first round of awards made from a new £100m station improvement fund.

A new automated ticket gating system will be among several imprvements made at Victoria, while Congleton, Guide Bridge, Sandbach and Todmorden stations will all have existing car parks improved as part of an initial £21m of projects – all of which are set to be delivered by the end of the year.

Network Rail is also encouraging train operators, local authorities and other interested parties to submit an application for the next wave of funding by the end of September.

The fund, which was launched alongside the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) earlier this year, is open to any stations of any size across the country. To be eligible, proposals must make improvements to stations and also reduce the overall public subsidy for rail by generating a financial return.

There is no cap on the level of funding for which applications can be made.
Mike Goggin, director of stations and customer service at Network Rail said: “This new fund will improve facilities for passengers without increasing the burden on the taxpayer. “

The second wave of funding is open for bids and we’d encourage the rail industry, local authorities and third parties to work together to come up with some more great ideas.”