Feltham train station’s £31m revamp ‘will make a huge difference to the line’
A £31 million revamp of Feltham train station designed to boost the key commuter line to London Waterloo has been completed.
Work by Network Rail began in September 2018 including extended platforms for longer 10-car trains, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge and a step-free entrance to platform 1.
The Feltham West level crossing has also been closed to improve community safety.
Announcing the milestone on February 5, rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “These important upgrades to Feltham station will make a huge difference on this key commuter line from London Waterloo, providing smoother passenger journeys and improved accessibility into and between platforms. This investment underlines our commitment to build back better out of Covid-19, delivering improved journeys for passengers as they return to the railway.”
It comes as work on a £375m project to upgrade signalling continues in a bid to improve reliability on the line by 2024.
According to Trainline, around 129 trains travel the FelthamLondon Waterloo route a day, on the direct line which has an average journey time of 40 minutes.
Train fares start from £7.60 for the 13-mile trip run by South Western Railway.
South Western Railway’s commercial projects director, Alex Foulds, said the improvements will make the station a “first-class gateway” to the area.
The completion also comes ahead of a new stabling and maintenance depot in Feltham which is due to open later this year, that will be used for South Western Railway’s new £1 billion fleet of Arterio trains.
Mr Foulds said: “The extended platforms will also welcome our brand new fleet of longer Arterio trains later this year, fully equipped with charging points at every seat, on board wi-fi and increased capacity.”
The completion also follows highways improvements made around the station.
Hounslow Council announced the re-opening of Hounslow Road, in Feltham, in October 2020, after more than two years of works, as part of the Feltham town centre traffic and transport improvements programme.
The scheme has involved widening roads, adding new traffic signals and safety improvements for pedestrians and new bus stops for the 490 and 285 services, as part of the wider Feltham station infrastructure improvements.