MESSAGE FROM NETWORK RAIL
There’s still time to have your say on our Reigate station proposals.
Our proposals will allow Thameslink trains to stop at Reigate for the first time, allowing a direct service to London Bridge and removing the existing need for trains to split and join at Redhill.
To connect Reigate to Thameslink, we’ll need to extend and widen platform 2 to accommodate the longer trains and create a new, third platform that will act as a turn back. The new turn back platform will allow services to terminate and go back towards London without using up capacity on the existing tracks, improving reliability.
We’ve also got plans for a larger, improved car park with additional designated parking bays to make it easier for you to park and ride.
More than 420 people attended the session information events we held last month, sharing their views and ideas. Now we want to hear your thoughts about our plans for the station.
You have until Monday 6 April to provide feedback on our proposals which will be used to shape our designs.
Click here to view the plans and share your views.
FOR INFORMATION - HERE IS THE RESPONSE I SUBMITTED:
I am extremely supportive of the initiative to improve Reigate station, and specifically to create a new platform to enable the station to act as a terminus for 12-car Thameslink train, this facilitating direct services for travellers between Reigate and London Bridge. This will be a very important improvement for local travellers, the local economy, and the Thameslink network, which it is very much hoped can be commissioned before the East Croydon upgrade programme.
However, it is also important that this station upgrade also includes other improvements that are not included in the current plans:
- Reigate level-crossing signalling - when I met with John Halsall last year, there was a clear verbal commitment made that addressing the outdated signalling system at the level crossing at Reigate Station would be included in the station upgrade specification. The reason for this is that the current signalling is resulting in inordinate downtime for the level crossing barriers for each train crossing. This is causing huge congestion and delay problems for vehicles using the A217 along what is a major road artery to and from M25 Junction 8. This problem will be compounded after May 2020 when GWR introduce one extra service each way per hour through Reigate station. It is vital that any improvement to Reigate Station includes measures to alleviate this serious problem, no matter that this may add to the overall cost of the project. This additional cost would have a large economic benefit to justify it.
- Passenger crossing between platforms – Visitors to the exhibitions were advised that it is not feasible from an engineering perspective to include a bridge to enable passengers to safely cross between platforms 1 and 2/3. Bearing in mind the importance that DfT and Network Rail place of station accessibility, surely the current facilities for platform crossing at Reigate Station must be deemed unacceptable. The current choice is either through an old and unsuitable subway or to walk across the level-crossing. Both options fall outside the station area so passengers have to leave the station and re-enter it if they wish to cross from one platform to the other. Furthermore, there is no provision at all for disabled rail users. I am not convinced that and engineering solution cannot be found to accommodate cross-platform access and would urge Network Rail to reconsider this in a creative manner.
- Parking – I welcome the proposal to increase parking spaces at the station and provide an in-out one-way solution to traffic flow. However, in view of the chronic parking problems being faced in the area, he would urge Network Rail to make every effort to ensure that as many parking places are made available in the area available for these and potentially more than on the existing plans.
I am sure you have received other similar comments on these issues from other consultees.
Please be assured of my continued support for this initiative and contact me if there is anything I can do to help ensure that the project (with improvements included) obtains approval.
Crispin Blunt MP