An access route will be created between platform 14 and the existing escalators
(Picture: Network Rail)More ticket gates and an expanded concourse are coming to London’s Victoria railway station as part of a £30 million upgrade.
Network Rail has started work to strip out retail space to reduce congestion and provide easier access for trains to Sussex and Gatwick Airport.
The station concourse area that serves platforms 15 to 19 will be opened up and expanded. An access route will be created between platform 14 and the existing escalators to the Victoria Place shopping centre. The Gatwick Express ticket office will also be relocated.
The number of ticket gates will expand from 86 to 111, including eight new accessible gates.
Network Rail has said that there will be a loss of some retail units to create more space for extra ticket gates but these could be back in other locations. Artist impressions show that the Upper Crust sandwich shop will be lost.
Work will get underway in September and will be carried out alongside the London Victoria resignalling project, a major programme of signalling upgrades on the south London lines into London Victoria.
Wendy Morton, department for transport’s rail minister, said: “These improvements, funded by the department for transport, will make travel easier, more comfortable, and more accessible for millions of passengers.”
“Victoria is one of London’s busiest stations and a gateway to Gatwick Airport and the South Coast so investing in creating an enlarged Sussex concourse and increasing the number of ticket gates available will help everyone to feel more comfortable,” said Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s stations director.
