Published on: Thursday, 8 October 2015
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Passengers usingPrittlewell station are benefiting from a more welcoming and attractive stationenvironment following a complete refurbishment project by Abellio GreaterAnglia.
Sir David Amess MPand Cllr Andrew Moring, Mayor of Southend, will meet with representatives of Abellio GreaterAnglia on Monday 12th October at 1030am to cut a ribbon toofficially mark the completion of the work.
Abellio GreaterAnglia has carried out repairs to the station canopy and platforms, a completerepaint, lighting improvements, constructed a new, improved waiting room andinstalled a new ticket vending machine (TVM) and CCTV.
The dividing wall between the existing booking halland new waiting room has been removed to create a larger, brighter space. Thenew waiting room benefits from DDA compliant push button automatic doors, atrain departure summary screen and energy-efficient heating, as well as newflooring and seating and redecoration in Abellio Greater Anglia colours. It alsooffers passengers the opportunity to charge laptops and mobile phones and workwhile they wait with a specially-made wall-mounted work top with plug socketsand three bar stools.
The waiting room and platforms have alsobenefited from new, more comfortable wooden stylebenches which replace the older style metal benches. The new seating, suppliedby Macemain and Amstad, improves the appearance of the platforms and iscompliant with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act to ensureease of use by those with mobility issues.
A new ticketvending machine has also been installed at the station and means thatpassengers will be able to purchase their train tickets before they travel andeven collect tickets which they have bought online.
The station entrance hasalso been repainted along with the footbridge and all timber, steel work and lightingcolumns around the station. The existing lighting in the station has also beenupgraded where required.
Ten new cycle stands have also been installedadjacent to the new ticket machine.
NeilGrabham, Head of Customer Service - East, said, “I amdelighted that this project to deliver a much-improved, more comfortablewaiting environment for our passengers and will restore the station to itsformer glory is now complete. Investingin upgrades to stations across the network is extremely important to AbellioGreater Anglia, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent facilities and service to ourcustomers.”
Sir David Amess, MP, commented, “I am absolutely delighted that themuch-needed upgrade of Prittlewell Station has now been completed. Therefurbishment that has taken place will benefit many constituents of SouthendWest, as well as visitors to the area who use the intercity link between LondonLiverpool Street and Southend Victoria. I am very grateful for the team atAbellio Greater Anglia who responded so positively to feedback from myself andmy constituents.”
CllrAndrew Moring, Mayor of Southend, commented: “I am very pleased to markthe official completion of this work. Our train network is so important tolocal people, businesses and to the economy of Southend-on-Sea, so I amdelighted that these improvements have been made. The changes will modernisethis popular station, and improve the whole experience of travelling to andfrom Prittlewell.”