David Amess, MP for Southend West, joined Network Rail, Southend Borough Council and c2c to mark the completion of work to provide improved facilities and a better station environment for passengers at Chalkwell.

The upgrade, which was funded by Network Rail through the National Stations Improvement Programme and Southend Borough Council, includes:

- Wider pavement outside the station
- Refurbished booking hall including a new automatic door at the front of the station
- New traditional cycle racks and a number of beach hut style secure cycle parking next to the station building
- New toilets
- Internal refurbishment of the footbridge
- New shelter on the London-bound platform

David Amess, MP for Southend West, said: “Congratulations to all concerned on delivering this project. These improvements will be very welcome to the fare paying public.”

Andy Bottom, Network Rail general manager, said: “An important part of building a bigger and better railway is to provide facilities at stations which better meet the needs of today’s passengers. This upgrade at Chalkwell will bring long-lasting benefits for passengers who use it every day.”

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s executive councillor for public protection, waste and transport, Tony Cox, said: “The work we have undertaken to improve the pavement outside the station and provide better facilities for cyclists will compliment the enhancements Network Rail has carried out to the station itself. We hope that the new facilities will encourage more people to cycle to Chalkwell Station rather than take their cars, which will help improve the environment to the benefit of everyone in the borough.”

Julian Drury, managing director of c2c, says: “We are really pleased to deliver these improvements at Chalkwell for our customers. The renovation work has significantly improved the station environment, whilst retaining its historic and unique character. This is just one example of the investment currently being put into c2c stations along the entire route as we prepare to take a major role in transporting customers to and from Olympic venues this summer.”

Network Rail has recently completed improvements at Ockendon station. Network Rail is also carrying out improvements at four other stations served by c2c at Laindon, Tilbury Town, Shoeburyness and Chafford Hundred.