Gatwick Airport Station VT Upgrade Hits Milestone

The upgrade to Gatwick Airport station in West Sussex, England, U.K., hit a milestone in early February as the final three of eight new escalators were lifted into place at the station, SussexWorld reports. The eight new escalators, as well five new lifts, four new stairways and the doubling of concourse space, will improve accessibility for all, while helping to keep services running on time as passengers will be able to board and alight trains more quickly. This means trains will spend less time on platforms, reducing delays and supporting more reliable service. Installation of steelwork on the new superstructure that will support a larger second concourse has also started, the source reports. The upgrade project is set to be completed by 2023. The improved station will be vital to the U.K.’s plans to build back better, saving more than 500 mT of CO₂ emissions by using low-carbon concrete and encouraging passengers to arrive to the airport, the country’s second busiest, by train, easing congestion on local roads. KONE provided the escalators for this project.