Network Rail has outlined plans to spend more than £3 billion on stations between now and 2014, when Control Period 4 ends, and it's asking rail users for their opinions about the main priorities.
It says most National Rail stations will receive some investment over the next five years, 'ranging from tens of thousands to tens of millions'. Heading the queue are high profile, major developments such as Reading and Birmingham New Street, but hundreds of minor stations will also be improved in various ways.
These improvements, which are sketched out in a new brochure called 'Action Stations', include new information systems, lifts and stairways, toilets, waiting rooms and shelters, bigger or refurbished ticket halls, better lighting, CCTV and general redecoration. More seats and better opportunities for station traders are also in the plans.
NR operations and customer service director Robin Gisby said stations are the shop front of the railways, and he admitted that they have been ignored for too long. He added: 'We must invest wisely. We shouldn't try and second guess passengers but ask them what they want from stations and what's important to them. We need to listen to passengers and use their views to guide our decisions."
As a result, Network Rail is launching a research project in which passengers will be asked what is important to them at their local station, and where they would like to see investment. The survey will start later this month, and is said to be the first of its kind. The results will be incorporated into a wider review of stations which will take place during most of 2010, while a parallel report is also expected from the Department for Transport shortly, following its appointment of 'station champions' Chris Green and Sir Peter Hall.