New and additional seating improves Greater Anglia rail stations

Published on: Thursday, 10 May 2018
Last updated: Thursday, 17 May 2018

Over 1300 extra seats are now available on rail station platforms across East Anglia.

The train operator has installed over 450 additional, new three-seater benches - and also replaced a further 318 existing benches with new ones.

Many stations are gaining at least 20 extra seats.

Greater Anglia’s Director of Asset Management, Simone Bailey, said: “The new platform seating provides more seats at stations and greater comfort for passengers, as well as improved station presentation, at a time when we continue to see increasing passenger numbers.

“It’s part of an ongoing programme of station upgrade projects which are also improving customer information, station lighting, ticket purchasing facilities and wider station presentation standards across our network.”

The new benches – which would be the equivalent of a kilometre long if placed end to end – have supplemented and/or replaced older benches at 131 stations, including almost all the company’s stations in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

They will provide many additional seats, which will be especially useful during busy times, and will also help to improve the appearance of the stations.

The new benches are compliant with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure ease of use by those with mobility issues.

Additional benches have been installed at: Attleborough, Audley End, Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Braintree, Broxbourne, Burnham-on-Crouch, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Cheshunt, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester, Diss, Ely, Great Yarmouth, Harlow Mill, Harlow Town, Hatfield Peverel, Hockley, Ingatestone, Ipswich, Kelvedon, Kennett, Lea Bridge, Lowestoft, Manningtree, Marks Tey, Needham Market, Norwich, Prittlewell, Rayleigh, Rochford, South Woodham Ferrers, Roydon, Sawbridgeworth, Shenfield, Southend Victoria, Stansted Airport, Stansted Mountfitchet, Stowmarket, Ware, Wickford and Witham.