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Transport minister sees how investment has improved stations in Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire. 

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer visited Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire yesterday (11 September 2014) to see how 3 rail improvement schemes will transform journeys for thousands of passengers.

The minister’s first stop was to unveil a commemorative stone to mark improvement works at Hatfield Station. A new footbridge with lifts has been installed by Network Rail through funding from the department’s Access for All programme, which will provide step-free routes at more than 150 stations by 2015.

The existing station will be expanded to include a second entrance and 2 new retail spaces alongside the existing café.

Baroness Kramer then travelled to Lincolnshire to open rail improvement works funded by the £280 million Great Northern Great Eastern project.

The minister saw the launch of a new underpass in Heighington, linking the village with nearby Branston. It replaces a former foot crossing and is used extensively by local school children. She also visited Sleaford, where work is being carried out to speed up journeys for freight services, which will ease pressure on rail capacity and reduce congestion in the town centre.

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer said:

It is a huge pleasure to see how these improvement works are already benefiting local people and passengers.

This government’s ambition is to have a railway fit for the 21st century which is why we are investing more than £38 billion over the next 5 years to maintain and enhance our network. That means more trains, more seats and more reliable journeys for passengers.

The government recently announced £100 million for additional station improvements across the country, and a further £100 million to extend the Access for All programme.