TRAIN companyWAGN that operates the rail link from London to Stansted is investing £10m to improve the service following the huge increase in the number of passengers using the Essex Airport.
As a result of the investment, there will be four trains an hour at peak times; carriages will be refitted with new modern seating; and more ticket facilities introduced. The arrival of a new fleet of trains over the next six months also heralds a name change for the service to Stansted Express next March. Currently it is called Skytrain.
The new business-class seating will have aircraft-style seats, tables, power points for laptop computers and mobile-phone charges. Seating will be configured in a 2-1 formation.
In the standard carriages, seats will be reconfigured in a 2-2 formation and credit-card telephones are being installed. Stansted Express operator WAGN will also provide catering facilities for the first time.
Announcing the plans for investment, WAGNcommercial director Mark Powles said: “We have already played a major role in the phenomenal growth of Stansted and we intend to make an increasing contribution to the airport’s on-going development.”
Powles said the train firm had to improve the service if it is to keep attracting passengers using Stansted.
WAGNis also installing ticket machines in baggage halls around Stansted’s terminal building and on platforms. A new ticket office is being installed at London’s Liverpool Street station to offer a dedicated service. Information screens detailing delays and train times are also being placed in Stansted’s terminal.
Last year, Stansted handled 6.8m passengers due to the growth of low-cost carriers Go and Ryanair, and the increase in capacity from KLM UK at its hub airport. This year it will handled over 8m as most carriers increase frequencies and add new routes.