Details have been revealed of a multi-million pound revamp to Dartford station which will modernise station facilities, provide a better end-to-end journey experience for passengers and better meet the needs of the people who use it for more than 3m journeys every year.
The upgrade, which is being funded jointly by the Homes and Communities Agency through Dartford Borough Council and the government’s National Stations Improvement Programme, includes:
- Demolition of the existing station building and re-constructing an eye-catching new three-storey structure which will provide a station fit for the 21st Century
- Creating a new concourse and ticket office which will be designed to make it easier for passengers to move around, particularly at busy times
- Installing better facilities at ground level, including new toilets, improved retail facilities and passenger information
- Creating more parking bays and a more open environment at the front of the station. This will be achieved by demolishing the existing offices for railway staff and relocating the people onto the first and second floors of the new building
- Extending the canopies on both platforms and installing new waiting facilities on platforms 1 and 2 to make it more comfortable for passengers to wait for their trains, particularly during bad weather.
Dave Ward, Network Rail’s route director for Kent, said:
“We want more people to choose rail to make journeys around Britain, whether for business or leisure.
“This means that in addition to providing a safe, punctual and reliable train service we need to give passengers the end-to-end journey experience they expect, including a station environment and modern facilities which meet their needs.
“The upgrade of Dartford station is a big step forward and will make a big difference for the community.”
The station will remain open to passengers throughout the construction with no disruption to the train services.
A temporary station entrance and ticket office will be created to allow passengers to continue safely using the station during the 15 month construction period.
The work, which is being delivered by Network Rail, is expected to start in late Summer 2011 and be completed by Winter 2012.
Good, because Dartford at the moment is total shite!!
It has been a long time in coming. Considering Dartford is the foremost station before going into London with 4 branch lines leading to/from it, this should have been many years ago. The station has alway been too small for the amount of passengers passing through it every day and the facilities have been rather laclustre to be quite frank. Well done NR and DBC, although better late than never. Just hope they don’t justify the cost by putting up the fares.
This is good newes to improve some of our very out dated and scruffy stations, but in Sussex we are crying out for an improved railway line from Hurst to Uckfield, double tract, then to extend to Lewes. Electrification would create an enormous improvement.
We have deisel trains that run on trck that does not give the passenger expectations of modern technology, the trains are often very short and very over crowded. Should we not be getting an improved railway line and train service? Have you seen Eridge, Crowbowborough and other railway stations on our line.
Has Network Rail and the Train Operators got the cart before the horse and are turning their backs on us in Sussex?
Not too pleased about The Railway Pub being demolished to make way for the new development. Always an alternative for somewhere to wait for delayed trains while having a Beer.