Southern’s Mitcham Junction station was highly commended in the Rail Station of the Year category at the recent London Transport Awards.
The entry was a joint one by London Borough of Merton, Southern and Network Rail and was up against stiff competition – not least Southern’s own Streatham Hill station.
There had been long-standing concerns by Merton, Southern and Network Rail about access to Mitcham Junction station.
The forecourt area was dominated by parked cars, there were inadequate cycle parking facilities, graffiti and litter were present and the operation of a nearby waste transfer station proved to be intimidating and to pedestrians and cyclists and created an unappealing environment.
The access road to the station was inadequately lit and thick foliage created dark spots at night. Poor surfacing on footways and uneven and steep steps added to the problems.
The challenge was to move the waste transfer station which was on Network Rail land, install a new footbridge and turn what was previously a dark and unwelcoming approach to the station into a light, bright, more accessible area.
In addition to the new footbridge and relocation of the waste transfer station, a new cycle lane from Carshalton Road to the station forecourt was constructed, covered cycle parking and motorcycle parking, upgrade lighting, new signage, new disabled parking bays and a designated drop-off area were all introduced to complete the job. Finally, litter and graffiti were removed to add a more welcoming feel.
Southern’s Head of Stations, Chris Brooks said: “We are delighted to have been highly commended in this category. Much deserved as the investment of time, money and effort by all three organisations working together has truly transformed Mitcham Junction station and the surrounding area.”
Southern was also recognised as part of the Oyster roll-out, a joint entry between Transport for London (TfL), Cubic Transportation Systems and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which won the Excellence in Technology award at the awards.
