Multi-million-pound new footbridge opens at station

A multi-milion-pound new footbridge at Haywards Heath railway station opened to passengers this week.
Haywards Heath Station's new footbridge SUS-160520-105153001Haywards Heath Station's new footbridge SUS-160520-105153001
Haywards Heath Station's new footbridge SUS-160520-105153001

The footbridge connects the station’s newly-built multi-storey car park directly to the station’s platforms. Meanwhile, the Boltro Road entrance to the station has also re-opened.

The first commuter to use the bridge at 6am when the footbridge opened was Michael Delve who said: “This is so convenient now. It’s good to have the option to get to any platform on the station and it’s well worth the money spent.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To mark the occasion, Michael was presented with a bottle of Champagne by Haywards Heath station manager Graham Thrower.

First commuter to use the new footbridge atHaywards Heath Station Michael Delve (centre) cuts the tape to open the bridge. Customer Service Assistant, Anthony Bowrah (left) and Station Manager, Graham Thrower (right) share the moment. SUS-160520-105136001First commuter to use the new footbridge atHaywards Heath Station Michael Delve (centre) cuts the tape to open the bridge. Customer Service Assistant, Anthony Bowrah (left) and Station Manager, Graham Thrower (right) share the moment. SUS-160520-105136001
First commuter to use the new footbridge atHaywards Heath Station Michael Delve (centre) cuts the tape to open the bridge. Customer Service Assistant, Anthony Bowrah (left) and Station Manager, Graham Thrower (right) share the moment. SUS-160520-105136001

Southern’s group station manager Paul Wyborn said: “Although the car park itself has been completed for some months, the footbridge has taken a little longer meaning that users had to walk the long way round to get to the station.

“The opening of the footbridge spells the end of those long walks in the rain!

“The new footbridge has lifts to all platforms, ticket machines and automatic ticket gates. The opening of the bridge also means the re-opening of the Boltro Road entrance which also spells the end of a walk the long way round too. ”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Network Rail area director Steve Knight said: “This new bridge is a multi-million pound investment in one of our busiest railway stations and it will make a huge difference to commuters, who will enjoy a much smoother journey from car to train.

“The new car park and the forthcoming retail developments at Haywards Heath are also important – in fact the new bridge was paid for by commercial development and not by the taxpayer.

“They all show how Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan is making a real difference to people across our network and how we are looking at every avenue for funding our improvements.”

Meanwhile, the station car park itself has proved controversial with a number of drivers complaining about inadequate signage for ‘pay and display’.