£2.4m station improvements unveiled at Ashford International

Ashford International was today officially unveiled by Damian Green, MP for Ashford, to the public following a six month refurbishment project to create a better station environment for passengers. The refurbishment cost £2.4 million, with £1.2 million provided by the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) and a further £1.2 million given by Ashford’s Future from central government growth area funding.

From left to right: Damian Green, MP for Ashford, Cllr Paul Clokie, Ashford Council leader, Judith Armitt, Ashford’s Furture managing director, Vince Lucas, Southeastern Service Delivery Director

Vince Lucas, service delivery director, Southeastern said, “Today marks the end of six months of hard work which will benefit all passengers using the station. The new improvements will help create an environment where they can feel comfortable and welcome. Coming on the back of the introduction of the high speed service, Ashford now has a station to match these exciting times. This project is another example of how partnership working can help benefit everyone and we hope this can set the example for not only elsewhere in the South East but throughout the country.”

The work was officially unveiled by Damian Green, MP for Ashford, and includes:

• Extension of the entrance booking hall to include more seating and a coffee bar
• Two new entrance/exits incorporating automatic doors to the station front
• Improved lighting on the station concourse
• Enhanced access and heated waiting area on platforms five and six
• Additional seating and refurbished toilets on platforms one, two, five and six

Damian Green, MP for Ashford said, “”Train travellers from Ashford, and visitors to the town, deserve the best and most modern facilities to complement our excellent transport links. It is great to see the new improved station fully operational.”

Mike Smith, Network Rail’s route enhancement manager for Kent, added: “With record levels of punctuality and a major programme of investment underway to enable longer trains to run, providing more seats for passengers, we can now put increased focus on improving stations. The new facilities at Ashford are a great example of how the rail industry is working together to bring Britain’s stations into the 21st century.”

Judith Armitt, managing director of Ashford’s Future, said: “Visitors to Ashford International are now greeted by a bigger, brighter and better station, providing a more pleasant point of arrival. The introduction of high speed services is a transformational change for Ashford and improvements to the station were vital to give travellers a fitting welcome to this growing town.”