New era for Skegness rail customers as EMR announces £3.3 million station transformation
- Significant investment funded by Government Town Deal Fund through Connected Coast Town Deal
- Development will transform Skegness railway station as the gateway to the town and Lincolnshire coast
- Improvements include a renovated concourse area, a community café, new retail units and improved customer waiting and toilet facilities
East Midlands Railway (EMR) announces over £3.3 million investment at Skegness railway station funded by the Government Town Deal Fund.
EMR is working with Connected Coast Town Deal, which oversees the Town Deal projects and Towns Fund investment in Skegness, as well as East Lindsey District Council and Network Rail, to completely reconfigure the layout of Skegness station, improving passenger flow around the station.
Customers can expect a number of enhanced facilities, including a standard accessible toilet and a changing places toilet, two new start-up offices, a community café and retail provisions. There will be improved access routes into the station for both pedestrians and vehicles, offering integration with the surrounding community.
The development, which is due to start later this year, will include full mechanical and electrical enhancements, with upgraded heating, ventilation, IT and security systems that will deliver a more sustainable and modern provision for customers travelling through the station.
Outside of the station, there will be an improved configuration of the Taxi / drop off area, a new pedestrianised route into the station, improved access to the adjacent bus station, installation of a new waste and storage compound, an external seating area for community café, reconfiguration of concourse and cycle facilities.
The project is part of the Connected Coast Town Deal programme of investment and was given the go-ahead by the government in 2022.
The Town Deal Fund was announced in 2019 and Skegness secured £24.5M in Town Deal funding in 2021. EMR has been in consultation with Connected Coast Town Deal, East Lindsey District Council, Sustrans, The Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service and Accessibility Panels to ensure the vision of the railway station was shaped by the local community.
Will Rogers, Managing Director for EMR, said: “We’re delighted the investment at Skegness Railway Station has been approved and we’re excited to work alongside Connected Coast Board, East Lindsey District Council and Network Rail to significantly improve the facilities for our customers.
“The development will transform Skegness station as the gateway to the town, by encouraging integration with the surrounding community and offering an improved customer experience to all station visitors.”
Robert Goulding, Station & Depot Portfolio Surveyor for Network Rail said: “This generous investment will help us deliver a much better experience for the thousands of passengers who use Skegness station each year.
“Our collaborative approach means that we can bring about a whole package of improvements, both inside and outside of the station. We’re looking forward to seeing the plans come to life and start to make a real difference for the seaside town.”
Chris Baron, Chair of Connected Coast Town Deal, said: "The redevelopment of Skegness Railway Station is an important project for the town, for both local people and visitors alike.
“As a result of the work and connecting to the bus station from the Skegness Interchange, the station will offer an enhanced experience, an improved welcome to the town and coast, and it will promote better connectivity with Skegness and the coastline.
"Ultimately, it will become more of a destination station with better facilities and more footfall. We look forward to seeing the project being delivered over the coming months."
Cllr Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council, said: “Having a welcoming, accessible and passenger-focussed railway station is vitally important to our residents who use the station for work and pleasure as well as visitors and holidaymakers who stay here. For many tourists, their first impression of Skegness starts when they arrive at the station, so it is vitally important they have a good experience.
“I’m absolutely delighted that by working with partners through the Connected Coast Town Deal that East Midlands Railway is able to make these investments which will benefit the town.”
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About Skegness Town Deal
In 2021, Skegness secured £24.5M in Town Deal funding from the government to deliver an ambitious vision that will empower a learning, enterprising, connected, healthy, and resilient community.
Through the delivery of a range of projects – all underpinned by the theme of skills-led diversification - the Skegness Town Deal will be transformational for the area, bringing long-term and sustainable improvements for local people and visitors alike.
All of the projects have been shaped with community involvement, ensuring they meet the needs of Skegness.
The Skegness Town Deal is overseen by Connected Coast, a board that is made up of private and public sector representatives.
Towns Fund – Town Deals
On 27 July 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.
A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between government, the Lead Council and the Town Deal Board. It sets out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.
See the 101 places being supported to develop Town Deals. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d722667e5274a09881c0c58/list-of-100-places.pdf
Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding last year for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places “build back better” in the wake of Covid-19. View a list of accelerated funding by place towns-fund-accelerated-funding-grants.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)