• The proposed renovation is expected to double the size of the station’s concourse and install more escalators and lifts.
   
• The planned transformation is expected to exceed the previously anticipated budget by £30 million.

The United Kingdom government’s planned renovation of the Gatwick Airport station is reportedly expected to exceed the previously anticipated budget by approximately £30 million.

Reports cite, the planned renovation, which was originally scheduled to start in 2017, is expected to double the size of the station’s concourse and install more escalators and lifts. The revamp would allow the station to handle a higher influx of travelers more effectively.

According to a report, the expansion is expected to reduce the problem of train delays, often caused by platform congestion and overcrowding. The renovation would also enhance passenger experience by facilitating easier connections to a number of other destinations.

UK Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling stated that renovation work is scheduled to begin by the spring of 2020 and would take approximately two years to reach completion.

The UK Department of Transportation (DfT) released an official statement that claims that the work to be done has already been agreed upon and funded.

A spokeswoman from DfT stated that all required renovation funding is currently in place and legal agreements have been signed among project co-funders, Coast to Capital Limited and Gatwick Airport Limited.  Explaining delays, the spokeswoman further added that the project is a complex multi-agency plan that needs to be executed at an international airport while it is still operational.

For the record, the Gatwick Airport receives more than 46 million visitors on an annual basis with approximately 20 million travelers coming in by train. This makes that station important for the airport’s operation and the proposed renovations extremely vital.

According to reports, Network Rail would be managing the renovation in partnership with the Department of Transport, which would be facilitating £101.5 million in funds with Coast to Capital Limited and Gatwick Airport Ltd providing £37 million and £10 million respectively.

Source Credits:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-48906146