Henry Smith MP has welcomed a total of £290,000 for local rail passenger improvement projects following disruption endured by train users at Three Bridges, Crawley, Ifield and Gatwick Airport stations, as part of a £15 million Passenger Benefit Fund.

The fund was initially announced by the Transport Secretary who subsequently nominated Henry Smith and two other MPs covered by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) routes to help oversee the programme. Henry recommended that decisions on how the fund is to be spent should be made at as local a level as possible.

Passenger groups and stakeholders will be able to decide for themselves what improvements are delivered by the fund at a local station. Crawley station has been allocated £50,000, with £80,000 for each of Gatwick Airport, Ifield and Three Bridges stations.

GTR will be engaging with local passenger groups, and passengers are also able to get involved by joining an online passenger panel.

Henry said;

“It’s right that Crawley, Ifield, Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport stations will be receiving £290,000 from the £15 million Passenger Benefit Fund levied against GTR following the disruption endured by passengers last year.

“I have received assurances that GTR will be engaging with passenger groups and I’d also encourage local passengers to join the online passenger panel to ensure as many views as possible are heard from rail users.”