Greater Anglia rail stations named ‘Safe and Secure’

Rail stations in East Anglia have achieved ‘Secure Station’ status for their focus on safety and security.

Sixty-three Greater Anglia stations in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have been reaccredited since 2019.

‘Secure Stations’ is a national scheme which recognises good practice where train operators have worked in partnership with the British Transport Police and other partners in implementing high standards of security at stations.

Directed by the Department for Transport and the British Transport Police, ‘Secure Station’ status takes into account areas such as station design, management practices, security and passenger safety.

Since the start of its franchise in 2016, Greater Anglia has upgraded CCTV and lighting, put in help points and installed secure cycle storage areas at stations across the network.

The company has also provided guidance to station staff about security and vigilance and improved working procedures with partners such as the British Transport Police.

Mark Tye, Greater Anglia’s Safety Compliance Manager, said, "In the recent reassessment, we were delighted to retain Secure Stations status for 63 stations on our network.

"The accreditations demonstrate that our working partnership with the British Transport Police is creating a safe, secure railway for everyone so that passengers can travel with confidence."

The stations gaining reaccreditation are Althorne, Audley End, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Brimsdown, Broxbourne, Burnham-on-Crouch, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Cheshunt, Clacton on Sea, Colchester, Colchester Town, Diss, Elsenham, Ely, Enfield Lock, Great Chesterford, Great Yarmouth, Halesworth, Harlow Town, Harwich International, Hatfield Peverel, Hertford East, Hockley, Ingatestone, Ipswich, Kelvedon, Lea Bridge, Lowestoft, Manea, Manningtree, Marks Tey, Newport, North Fambridge, Northumberland Park, Norwich, Ponders End, Rayleigh, Rochford, Roydon, Sawbridgeworth, Saxmundham, Shelford, Shenfield, Southend Victoria, Southminster, South Woodham Ferrers, Stansted Airport, Stansted Mountfitchet, St Margaret’s, Stowmarket, Thetford, Thorpe Le Soken, Tottenham Hale, Waltham Cross, Ware, Whittlesea, Whittlesford Parkway, Wickford, Woodbridge and Wrabness.

Greater Anglia continues to ensure that rail travel is safe for staff and passengers during the pandemic with an enhanced cleaning regime, on stations and trains, concentrating on high-touch areas such as push buttons, grab rails and door handles.

The train operator has also introduced a wide range of measures to make it easier for customers to maintain social distancing at stations and on trains - including floor markings, one-way systems, new signs and queuing systems.

It is now mandatory for customers to wear a face covering when using public transport, to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Children under the age of 11 and people with a disability or illness which means they cannot wear a face covering are exempt from wearing them.