Plans to add more ticket barriers at London Victoria station have been changed by Network Rail to add even more than they had initially planned.
London Victoria station (c) Network Rail
Refurbishment work started last year to remove some of the kiosks that sat in front of the platforms and reuse the space for more ticket barriers to reduce congestion as people leave the trains.
They had planned to increase the number of ticket barriers in the station from 88 to 111, including adding 8 more wide (accessible) gates — but they now say that they can raise the number to 125 gates instead. More gates means fewer queues to get through them to the trains/platforms.
However, the £30 million upgrade programme is also taking longer than expected, and where it had been expected to be completed by the end of this year, now it won’t be completed until March 2024.
So far, the retail units next to platforms 2-7, and platforms 8-13, have been demolished to make way for the new gates. That work required the removal of 250 tonnes of spoil and 150 tonnes of steel. In addition, the retail units along the narrow route to platforms 15-19 have also been demolished to create a wider thoroughfare between platform 14 and the escalators leading to the Victoria Place shopping centre.
Attention now turns to installing the new gates and the customer information systems that will sit above them, completing electrical works and installing 690 square metres of new flooring on either side of the new gateline.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “It’s been an immense challenge undertaking this project while the station is still fully operational, as we couldn’t interfere with passenger announcements or electrical and power supplies.
“All the key enabling works are now complete and we will now turn our focus to the numerous construction elements of this project.
“We’ve worked hard to minimise the disruption to passengers and we’re really grateful to them for their patience while this work is ongoing and we look forward to giving them easier, faster and safer journeys from March next year.”
Am I the only one to remember that this isn’t in the purview of the Executive, it was enact acted by parliament and it formed part of the winning parties manifesto?
Just saying.
I would be very surprised if an election manifesto was so detailed as to specify a specific train station as earmarked for an upgrade.
What does this even mean?
The Executive / Government controls what laws Parliament passes.
Even Private Members bills ony get through if the Government wants them passed (or at least doesn’t object to them)
Hiya Ian, thanks for the article.
Do you know what works caused the delay? At least its been offset (to me) by design changes that increased the number of ticket gates.
And I am trying to find the master programme to see what works took how long for a project, do you know the right direction to go? Many thanks and keep up the good work.