Margate railway station will have further improvement works with the booking hall refurbished and work for historic restoration and improved staff accommodation taking place as part of a £4.4million improvement plan for stations in East Kent.
Southeastern and Network Rail say the improvements will make the stations more accessible for the 400,000 passengers who use the trains across the South East and London.
Southeastern says the Margate works will improve visibility for passengers and will include work on the exterior of the building to return it to its original appearance and bring a retail unit back into use.
It follows on from a £160,000 scheme last year to declutter and redecorate both Margate and Ramsgate stations. Part of the works included the polishing of the parquet flooring.
Refurbishment and redecorations will also be carried out at Canterbury East, Canterbury West, Faversham and Herne Bay stations.
David Wornham, Passenger Services Director for Southeastern, said: “We want the best possible facilities for our customers across our network, which is why we’ve targeted our investment at stations where work to improve accessibility is about to begin or has recently been completed as a result of government investment under the Access for All scheme.”
All we need now are regular trains.
We’ve got an excellent service. At least 3 direct trains an hour to St Pancras.
No money being spent on minster station, only a downgrade in timetable , coincidence of course and nothing to do with imminent opening of £32 million (taxpayers money) white elephant new station couple miles away.
Yes – the village stations have been turned into miserable, bleak places with absolutely minimal facilities.
Does anyone know why local councils supported this new station, rather than getting our existing stations improved? And a massive car park but no buses to and from the new station! Bonkers!
Mr Lewis – Why are you so negative all the time? At least give some credit for improvements
Don’t bother polishing the floor, updated toilets would be preferable!!
Can think of better uses for this money. Upgrading the signalling? Fixing lifts at Faversham? Canterbury stations only refurbished a few years ago, surely can’t need doing again!
There is a scheme to upgrade the signalling and other infrastructure to improve line speeds between Thanet and Ashford, to compensate for the increased journey time caused by stopping at Thanet Parkway station.