The Rt. Hon Sir Alan Haselhurst MP officially opened the new transport interchange at Audley End station on Friday 25 November.
The project has been funded and delivered by Essex County Council in partnership with train operator National Express East Anglia (NXEA) to help increase the use of sustainable modes of transport for access to the station for buses, cycles and taxis, especially from the Saffron Walden area, and to improve access for pedestrians.
The transport interchange features include:
- Introduction of a ‘one-way’ system to ease traffic flow in the station car park
- Creation of a bus turning area at the south end of the car park
- New bus stop and shelter with provision for ‘real-time’ bus information
- Dedicated taxi-rank immediately outside the station
- New, covered cycle parking area
- Improved layout for disabled parking
- Provision of improved local bus information at the station.
The new transport interchange marks the final stage in the development of a number of significant improvements recently implemented at this important station, which includes:
- NXEA opened a new 150 space car park extension in February 2010
- A new footbridge and passenger lifts have been installed under the Access for All scheme
- NXEA introduced a fleet of brand new Class 379 trains on key services to / from Liverpool Street
- From the December 2011 timetable, the new trains will increase seating capacity and improve journey times to London by up to 9 minutes.
Andrew Goodrum, Customer Services Director, National Express East Anglia said:
“The completion of this further, welcome investment in improving customer facilities at Audley End station will help in encouraging even more people in the area to use their local station.
“I am very grateful to Essex County Council for their support in delivering the new transport interchange which has completed a major transformation of the station over the past year.”
Essex County Councillor Tracey Chapman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said:
“Essex County Council is pleased to support any project which is going to help ease the stress of travelling for Essex residents.
“The improvements made at Audley End station will help ease traffic flow and provide better facilities for people to complete the journey to and from Audley End station whether on foot or by bus, bike, car or taxi.
“The improvements include a new one-way system, a turning circle for buses at the end of the car park, a new large four-bay bus shelter with real-time information, a dedicated taxi rank, a new disabled parking layout, new paving outside the station with extra seating and a new cycle shelter with the capacity for holding 28 cycles.”
