Huge Herne Bay station changes and what they mean for commuters

A large project to extensively upgrade a Kent railway station is due to start later this month. Network Rail has confirmed plans that will see Herne Bay ^[1] train station receive a number of key improvements in a bid to better the site’s accessibility.

Works for this £6million upgrade will begin from Monday, November 20. The lengthy project is expected to be completed in winter 2024, which once finished will mean Herne Bay station will be 'fully accessible'.

This will make it easier for passengers with limited mobility, visual impairments as well as those travelling with pushchairs and bicycles to make their way around the station. Works will include the installation of two, 16-person capacity lifts as well as a new footbridge with staircases which will span between the platforms at the station.

It has been confirmed that these works will have minimal disruption on services while they are carried out. Hodan Hassan, Network Rail’s commercial scheme sponsor, said: “It’s really great to see the investment being made to make stations fully accessible in the Kent region and we welcome the continued investment from the DfT and continue to work closely with local councils to provide the best experience for all rail users.

Herne Bay railway station is set for a number of key improvements, including the installation of new lifts, a footbridge, revamped lighting and more (Image: Robert Eva)

“We’d like to reassure passengers and local residents that most of the work will take place over weekdays during daytime hours and will not affect the train services during the week.” Other improvements headed to Herne Bay station include revamping the lighting and adding new CCTV cameras to make customers feel safer.

This project has been funded by the Department for Transport’s ‘Access for All’ scheme, which first launched in 2006 and is used to create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platforms. Jo Pettman, Southeastern’s ^[4] station manager for Herne Bay, added: “We’re always wanting to do more for our customers, as part of our drive towards a better, more reliable and more sustainable railway.

“We’ll see the accessibility of Herne Bay station transformed by Network Rail over the next year, with the new lifts and footbridge set to make a huge difference to everyone who uses the station, whether that’s people using pushchairs or wheelchairs, bikes and those with heavy luggage. Our customers will also welcome the planned security improvements that will ensure Herne Bay station remains a safe place to travel to and from.”

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References

^{^} Herne Bay (www.kentlive.news)
^{^} Missing Kent man, 22, found dead abroad (www.kentlive.news)
^{^} Urgent 'call 999' appeal to find man wanted by Kent Police (www.kentlive.news)
^{^} Southeastern’s (www.kentlive.news)
^{^} Find out more here. (data.reachplc.com)