Network Rail has revealed it is considering rebuilding Reigate station in Surrey, with the aim of providing more capacity, a more reliable service and improved connections – potentially with Thameslink services to London Bridge and beyond.
Reigate lies on the North Downs line and is currently served by GWR trains that run between Reading and Redhill. In addition, Southern runs a service to London Victoria that terminates at Reigate.
Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway’s plans for Reigate include a new platform able to accommodate 12-carriage trains terminating at the station and turning back towards London.
John Halsall, managing director of Network Rail’s Southern region, explained: “A new platform at Reigate would not only allow longer trains to stop at the station for the first time, but could also create the potential for direct connections to London Bridge and help to speed up services across the region.
“Many of the benefits of these plans will primarily be enjoyed by Reigate and the surrounding areas, but, by creating a dedicated ‘turn-back’ platform, we can also create space for more services to run on the Brighton main Line.”
The proposed station upgrade would extend and widen the existing Platform 2 and lay track to create a new platform to accommodate services on the Brighton main line from London that would turn back at Reigate. This would allow Thameslink trains of up to 12 carriages to stop at the station for the first time, reducing journey times by removing the current need for trains to split and join at Redhill, and would also, subject to consultation, give a train operator the potential to introduce direct London Bridge services.
The plan is to build the new platform in the area occupied by the existing station car park. This would create the opportunity to build a larger, improved car park, new access roads and additional designated parking bays.
The next step is a public consultation, including locally held events – a process which will last until 6 April 2020.
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