Published on: Thursday, 12 May 2016
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Abellio Greater Anglia has completed a project to install new and additional platform and waiting room seating to improve the waiting environment at rail stations.
Over 335 additional benches have been installed since the start of the franchise – the equivalent of half a kilometre if placed end to end.
New wooden-style benches have replaced the older-style metal benches at Burnham on Crouch, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Colchester, Frinton, Great Yarmouth, Hockley, Ipswich, Norwich, Witham, Rochford and Shenfield.
They have also been installed at 12 waiting rooms across the region – at Bishop’s Stortford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ely, Ipswich, Hockley, Rayleigh, Shenfield, Stowmarket, Wickford and Witham as part of a waiting room refurbishment programme.
The new seating, supplied by Macemain and Amstad, is helping to improve the appearance of platforms and waiting rooms and is compliant with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure ease of use by those with mobility issues.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Director, Andrew Goodrum, said, “The completion of the programme to upgrade waiting room and platform seating provides greater comfort for passengers and an improved station appearance, as well as providing more seats as stations with growing passenger numbers.”