Bids encouraged for £100m station improvement fund

2 September 2011

Train operators, local authorities and other third parties are being encouraged to submit an application for a share of the next wave of funding from a new £100m station improvement fund, before the deadline at the end of September.

The call to action comes as the first 15 projects funded by the programme were unveiled including car park improvements, station redevelopments and smart ticketing. The first of these projects, which are worth £21m, is set to be delivered by the end of this year.

The fund was launched by Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) earlier this year and is open to any stations of any size across the country. To be eligible, proposals must make improvements to stations and also reduce the overall public subsidy for rail by generating a financial return.

Mike Goggin, director of stations and customer service at Network Rail said: “This new fund will improve facilities for passengers without increasing the burden on the taxpayer. The second wave of funding is open for bids and we'd encourage the rail industry, local authorities and third parties to work together to come up with some more great ideas.”

Phase two of funding will be released later this year for which proposals are requested by 30 September 2011.

Alec McTavish, director of policy and operations at ATOC, said: “The projects announced today will improve facilities for customers and achieve a financial return to taxpayers. This is good news all round.”

There is no cap on the maximum value of the proposals, which can be up to the remaining value of the £100m and bids are welcomed from third party organisations as well as the rail industry. Proposals will be assessed by a panel including the Department for Transport, ATOC and Network Rail.

First tranche of successful bidders:

Applicant	Project Name
C2C	Ticket gating at Southend East and Purfleet stations
Southeastern & Network Rail	Waterloo East balcony ticket gating
Southeastern & Network Rail	Rochesternew ticket office and gating
Southeastern & Network Rail	Denmark Hill station ticket gating
Southeastern & Network Rail	Driver Only Operation Strood to Gillingham
Northern Rail	Improvements to six car parks at Congleton, Guide Bridge, Sandbach, Crossflats, Sowerby Bridge, and Todmorden
Network Rail	Kings Cross ticket gating
Network Rail	ManchesterVictoriaimprovements, including ticket gating
Southern	Smartcard installation at 91 Southern franchised stations
Southern and Network Rail	Brightonstation redevelopment
First Great Western	Pershore car park improvements
First Great Western	Charlbury car park improvements
First Great Western	Langleycar park improvements
First Great Western	Radley car park improvements
First Great Western	Kemble car park improvements

· Tranche two of funding will be released later this year for which proposals are requested by 30 September 2011. Updated documents for use with all Tranche 2 applications will be uploaded onto the Network Rail website by 2nd September 2011.

· The £100m station commercial project facility is an initiative developed by the Department for Transport in partnership with Network Rail, ATOC and the Office for Rail Regulation. It is available for capital expenditure projects and will be administered and programme managed by Network Rail

· Proposals must provide a financial return over and above project costs and be complete by 31st March 2014. Successful proposals will benefit from a Network Rail sponsor to help secure the necessary consents and support effective delivery.

· The £100m station commercial projects facility is an additional funding source separate from the national stations improvement programme and the control period 4 performance fund.

Application forms and guidance can be downloaded from Network Rail's website at www.networkrail.co.uk/SCPF

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