Green light for �6m Hatfield rail station facelift
HATFIELD rail station WILL be getting a multi-million pound upgrade, it has been confirmed.
As exclusively revealed by the Welwyn Hatfield Times last week, the Great North Road station will be redeveloped and feature all-new retail facilities, a bus interchange, multi-storey car park, taxi rank and step-free access to all platforms.
The plans were confirmed by Network Rail’s investment panel last Thursday, following a bid for funding from train operator First Capital Connect and Hertfordshire County Council, with support from Gascoyne Cecil Estates, which manages the adjacent Hatfield House.
Hatfield was allocated �6m – as the Welwyn Hatfield Times had reported – but in addition to that sum, the station has already been given an extra �3m from Network Rail and Hertfordshire County Council. That money will be spent on a new footbridge and lifts.
David Statham, First Capital Connect’s projects director, said: “I am delighted with the decision from Network Rail and the Department for Transport to approve the redevelopment plan for Hatfield Station.
“The plans look incredible and I am confident our customers will be overjoyed once the works are completed.”
The redevelopment will take place in three phases, with the first two phases planned for completion by April 2014.
Most Read
- 1 IN PICTURES: Stars come out for Simply Red concert in Hatfield Park
- 2 Screen on the Green returning to Welwyn Garden City
- 3 The latest court results for Welwyn Hatfield and Potters Bar
- 4 Hertfordshire 'extreme heat' amber warning as temperature set to soar
- 5 'Tesco must tackle blight of trolley-dumping in Potters Bar'
- 6 'Risk of injury' - Aldi recalls product due to safety fears
- 7 It's A Kind of Magic as Queen Symphonic's Bohemian Rhapsody rocks Hatfield Park
- 8 Biggest 'shooting star' meteor shower to peak this week
- 9 Pictures of Paloma Faith and special guest Sam Ryder at Hatfield Park concert
- 10 Champions! Old Owens going up after securing title
Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, added: “This investment will make a big difference to passengers and is part of a wider effort to build a bigger, better railway.
“As well as providing a safe, punctual and reliable train service we must give passengers a better journey experience.
“These improvements will deliver a brighter, safer and more modern station with enhanced facilities for passengers.”
Hatfield Rail Station was one of 21 rail stations to successfully apply for a share of a �100m fund launched earlier this year by Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Association of Train Operating Companies.
County Councillor Stuart Pile, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “It has been a long held aspiration of Hertfordshire County Council to see an improved transport interchange at Hatfield Station and we look forward to working on this exciting project in collaboration with First Capital Connect and Gascoyne Cecil Estates.”
