Call made for millions more to revamp station

FUNDING for improvements to Gatwick railway station has been increased by £10m to £19m '“ but West Sussex County Council's leader says it is still not enough to do a proper job.

Earlier this year, Cllr Henry Smith warned the Government that a spending squeeze could leave the airport's rail links 'unfit for purpose' when the London 2012 Games start.

He spoke out after a report on future investment showed that only 9m had been earmarked for Network Rail by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for improvements at the station when 30m was needed to pay for track and signalling improvements as well as a new passenger concourse.

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Now the ORR has increased its funding for the scheme to 19m. But while welcoming the increase, Cllr Smith said it was still 'way short of what is needed to transform a major gateway into Britain for visitors to London 2012'.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette November 19