A host of improvements which are providing a better experience for thousands of passengers at Horsham station every week have been officially unveiled. Rail minister Norman Baker MP visited the station earlier this week to see how £1.88m of National Station Improvement Programme funding has been spent to rejuvenate the station.

Over £4m has been spent at Horsham station and passengers are now benefiting from a range of improvements including a new station layout which includes a second entrance, better retail facilities and new, fully accessible toilets.

There is improved access to a lift which provides step-free access to platforms and, using £165,000 of funding from West Sussex County Council, there have been improvements made to the forecourt area, extra parking spaces created and increased cycle storage provided.

The platforms have also been enhanced with new, modern canopies which will provide better cover and a lighter, brighter area.

Rail minister Norman Baker MP said: “A good quality railway journey starts the moment you enter a station, not just when you step onto a train. That is why the £1.88m we have provided for this wholesale improvement to Horsham station is so important. The coalition government is determined to encourage more passengers to use more trains by giving them an excellent experience during their whole trip.”

Mark Ruddy, route managing director for Network Rail in Sussex, said: “Facilities in stations across Sussex continue to improve thanks to the National Station Improvement Programme and work by Network Rail and Southern Railway. More and more passengers are using the railway today and they quite rightly expect and deserve a better standard of facilities and level of information than ever before.

“Horsham station has been vastly improved and is a great example of the positive impact this level of investment in stations is making across the south of England.”

Chris Burchell, Southern Railway’s managing director, said: “The high quality end-product at Horsham station is a fine example of what can be achieved by working closely with our industry and local authority colleagues. The development schemes that have been delivered have transformed Horsham station into a truly superb public transport interchange. By running three separate schemes in tandem, we have managed to minimise the level of disruption on the service and I know our passengers will benefit greatly from the improvements in the months and years ahead.”

Pieter Montyn, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “When you step off the train at Horsham now, you feel you are walking into a rail station fit for the 21st century.

“We are delighted to see that our investment will contribute to the positive passenger experience at Horsham station.”