Stevenagefifth platform opensaheadof schedule
THEnewfifth platformfor HertfordLoopcommuter servicesat Stevenageopenedto passengerosn August2, more than a yearaheadof completion,.
The£40millionprojectis part of a widerprogrammeto eliminate congestionat keylocationsand createadditionalcapacityfor longdistanceEasCt oastMainLine (ECMLs}ervices.
Platform5 islocatedon the westernsideof the stationand is servedby a dedicatednew single-tracklinkfrom Langley Junction,wherethe HertfordLoop divergesfromthe ECML.
Separate
It isdesignedto separate terminatingGreatNortherntrains from the HertfordLoop,allowing the four through platformsto be usedby moreThameslinkG, TR and LNERtrains. Thenewplatformincludesa passengelrift andstairsto an extendedstationfootbridge, alongwith two waitingrooms, threesetsof seatinga, helppoint andticketmachine. A sociallydistancedofficial openingceremonywascarried out by railministerChrisHeatonHarrisMPon August3.
Workto buildthe additionalline and platformbeganin early-2019, with trainsbetweenStevenage andthe HertfordLoophaving beenreplacedby busessinceMay 2019.Howevera, half-hourlya, lldayservicehasnow beenrestored via HerifordNorthto Stevenage. The£1.2billionEasCt oast Upgradebetween2014and 2024will createcapacityfor up to 10,000extraseatsa dayon long-distanceservicesandallow moreandfasterECMLservices. Majorcivilengineeringprojects arealsotakingplaceat King's CrossandWerringtonJunction, north of Peterborough.