Brighton Yard entrance: Update, Photo, Quotes and Funding

2 mins read

Author: Cyril Richert
Wandsworth Council published a press release today on how Clapham Junction’s Brighton Yard entrance will look:

“Passengers have been given the first glimpse of how Clapham Junction’s Brighton Yard entrance will look following a multi-million pound makeover £1.9m (the cost of the entrance is £1.9m – see at the bottom of the press release. The government funding to make the station step-free access is  £8.5m which brings the total refurbishment to about £10.5m) makeover which will improve accessibility and reduce congestion at the station.
[…]
Councillor Ravi Govindia, Wandsworth Council’s transport spokesman said: “This project will make it much easier for disabled people to pass through the station and could ease overcrowding in the subway tunnel by as much as 25 per cent. This will be very welcome news to the thousands of passengers who cram through it everyday on their way to and from work. It certainly won’t solve all of station’s problems, but reopening Brighton Yard is a big step in the right direction.”
Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “As train travel continues to grow in popularity, it’s vital everyone can access the railways and that’s why the Government is supporting disabled passengers through our Access for All scheme which aims to make railway stations more accessible and our National Stations Improvement Programme, which aims to modernise stations across the network.
“These schemes have enabled us to support this redesign of Clapham Junction’s Brighton Yard entrance with £700,000 of funding.”
Richard O’Brien, Network Rail’s route director for Wessex, said: “The new Brighton Yard entrance will transform the way people use one of the busiest stations in the country. It will make the station easier for everyone to use, particularly those with reduced mobility, heavy luggage or young children, and help reduce congestion as anyone coming from St John’s Hill can use the over bridge rather than the subway.”
Jake Kelly, commercial director for South West Trains, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for all passengers to access our train services. We are therefore extremely pleased to be playing our part in delivering this significant improvement scheme, which we know will make a huge difference to the millions of passengers using Clapham Junction each year.”
Geoff Hobbs, Transport for London’s head of rail strategy said: “With so many people walking, cycling or using the bus to get to Clapham Junction station, the new entrance will mean more integrated journeys and significantly improved access for passengers. The cycle racks in particular will increase cycle parking provision by 140% at this busy location, which is directly on the London Cycle Network.”
Work is scheduled for completion by Summer 2011.
The Brighton Yard entrance improvements are being funded as follows:

  • Department for Transport – £700k (through Access for All and National Stations Improvement Programme)
  • South West Trains £600k
  • Wandsworth Council – £300k
  • Transport for London £300k

Records suggest the Brighton Yard entrance was closed in the late 1940s, although it may have been re-opened for a short period in the 1960s.
The work at Clapham junction is being delivered by Network Rail, in partnership with its contractor Osborne.”


Read also our previous articles:

The Clapham Junction Action Group is committed to work with residents, political parties, businesses and all stakeholders to provide ideas for the redevelopment of the station. You can participate here (click).

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CJI editor and Clapham Junction Action Group co-founder and coordinator since 2008, Cyril has lived in Clapham Junction since 2001.
He is also funder and CEO of Habilis-Digital Ltd, a digital agency creating and managing websites and Internet solutions.