Train bosses are putting the finishing touches to refurbishments at Welwyn Garden City station as part of a nationwide investment project.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is marking #StationsDay, which celebrates the £5.2 billion investment in Britain’s railway stations.
As part of the investment, a £700,000 scheme at Welwyn Garden City station has introduced a new accessible toilet on platforms three and four and refurbished waiting rooms and toilets on platforms one through to four.
There is also new interior cladding on the footbridge and refurbished stairwells, and the exterior of the stations buildings has been refreshed and repainted.
Both ends of platforms one and two have been landscaped, creating raised flower beds. The improvements will be ready for the station, which was opened just north of the existing site in 1920, to celebrate its centenary.
GTR spokesman Roger Perkins said: “We’re delighted with the work done by Lynda Cowan and our station partnership team which has truly put the ‘Garden’ back into Welwyn Garden City station.
“Coupled with the refurbished waiting rooms, new toilets, spruced-up footbridge and stairs which will soon be finished, they have together created a much more pleasant environment for our passengers.”
Malcolm Cowan, who with Malcolm Day has been working with Govia on the refurbishment projects said: “We are delighted with the improvements to the waiting rooms and new toilets, and in particular that we were able to persuade Govia to remove the former railings along the middle of the footbridge, which were such a hindrance to anyone trying to catch their train.
“We hope that Network Rail will fulfil their promise to refurbish the canopies in plenty of time for the 2020 celebrations.”
Lynda Cowan leads the WGC Station Adoption Group, All Aboarders, who carry out the gardening work.
She said: “We are thrilled with plants and plan that Antony Henn of Garden On A Roll has given us.
“We found it really easy to use the scheme Antony came up with, and the result looks so good.
“We are looking forward to doing the same on another bed in a couple of weeks time.
“It would be great to bring WGC station into the Premier League of stations for planting and design.”
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