Chelmsford Station Improvement Scheme Progress Report

Published on: Thursday, 27 March 2014
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

The £3.2m improvement scheme at Chelmsford station which is set to transform passenger facilities at Abellio Greater Anglia’s second busiest station is continuing to take shape, with the construction work moving apace in the coming weeks.

Funded through the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) backed by the Department for Transport, and the Network Rail Development Fund, the improvements at Chelmsford include a new station frontage and ticket office, construction of a new stair tower to the London-bound platform and better retail facilities in improving the overall environment at the station and surrounding area. The £600k Cycle Point on the south side of Duke Street opposite the station was opened last year and has parking for almost 1,000 cycles.

The next stage of the works will see the installation of a temporary staircase between the intermediate landing and platform one level in preparation for the existing staircase towards the London end of the platform to be demolished. This in turn will allow the steelwork to be erected for the new Duke Street entrance and tower, as well as the construction of the staff accommodation situated above the ticket office. These works will then help to facilitate the opening of the new stair tower entrance / exit for the London bound platform.

Later this month, three additional ticket vending machines will be installed at the station. Over the forthcoming Easter Holiday weekend, the existing ticket office will close as part of the ongoing construction works and a temporary office will be opened whilst the new ticket office is being built. To assist with the changeover from the present accommodation, the temporary ticket office will be open for business for the start of service on the Tuesday morning after Easter. Customers wishing to purchase tickets through the ticket office from 14.00 on 18 April (Easter Saturday) until the start of service on Tuesday 21 April may wish to purchase their ticket in advance or use the ticket machines instead as the full ticket retailing service will not be available during this period.

Work on the ticket gateline is scheduled in May and then later that month, the main focus will shift to the installation of the new staircase and completion of the enlarged glazed area over the new ticket hall.

Regular updates for customers and visitors to the station will be provided over the coming weeks and months as the new station facilities really begin to take shape.

Simi Timubu, Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager for Chelmsford said: “The station improvements at Chelmsford are gathering pace and we’re looking forward to the completion of the project.

“With the changes to the ticket office being introduced next month to facilitate the further progress of the works, we continue to be very grateful for the co-operation and patience of our customers throughout the duration of the improvement works.”