Bids encoraged for £100m station improvement fund

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.