National Express East Anglia (NXEA) has commenced a major improvement scheme at Colchester North station in Essex, representing an investment of £2.2m including financial contributions from the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP) and key stakeholders Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council.

NXEA has listened to customer feedback and worked with Network Rail to determine priorities for improvement at Colchester. A key part of the package of works is the reinstatement of the main entrance on the south side of the station, including provision of a ticket office, relocated customer service office and new WH Smith. In addition, the canopy over the walking route to platform 3 will be lengthened and additional shelters will be provided for passengers boarding trains at the London end of the platform. The south side forecourt will also be improved to provide better access for cars and taxis, and a new facility will double the cycle parking capacity available on this side of the station.

On platforms 1 and 2, Network Rail will be upgrading some of the platform buildings in a later phase of the scheme, to be coordinated with longer term engineering works.

On the north side of the station, there will be some small scale improvements to the layout of the taxi area, with an improved pedestrian walking route created from the car park, in addition to the newly opened cycle parking.

James Reeve, National Express East Anglia’s Station Manager at Colchester said:

“I am delighted that we have secured this combination of funding in order to progress these major improvements at Colchester North station. It will help transform the facilities at the station for our customers. I’m particularly pleased that the original station entrance will once again be in use and together with the new facilities the customer experience at Colchester will really be enhanced.”

Andrew Munden, Network Rail route director, said:

“The improvements being made at Colchester will give passengers what they want – a safer, brighter, more spacious station providing an improved environment for everyone travelling by train. Britain relies on rail and the planned new facilities are a great example of how the rail industry is working together to bring Britain’s stations into the 21st century, encouraging even greater use of the railway network.”

Colchester is one of 5 stations on the NXEA network which will benefit from the National Stations Improvement Programme.