Comfortable and stylish new seating is being rolled out at London Victoria and London Bridge stations in the latest initiative from the Network Rail South East route.
The Autumn 2018 National Rail Passenger Survey showed just 23% passenger satisfaction with seating at Victoria and 36% at London Bridge. The South East route team decided to upgrade the seating in response to that passenger feedback and the total seat capacity at Victoria and London Bridge is now being increased from 150 at each station to 400 at each station.
John Halsall, route managing director, South East, said: “We need to look after our passengers from the moment they choose to travel by train and this project shows we care and that we want them to have a comfortable journey as soon as they arrive at our stations.”
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus comments: “Passengers tell us that one of their main priorities at stations generally and at London Victoria is for better and more seating. These new, good-looking seats provide just that.”
The seats, which are similar to those installed at Stansted Airport, were made by Green Furniture Concept, based in Malmo, Sweden. The team chose a multi-coloured wooden configuration with tables built in for laptops and coffee cups.
Installation has started at Victoria and will continue at London Bridge.
Darren Williams, station manager, London Victoria said: “The new seating follows in the footsteps of other passenger experience initiatives which we have recently launched such as the refurbishment of the toilets and the Team Victoria initiative which has seen all Network Rail and train operating staff at the station wear the same uniform. It’s tangible proof that we are working to do things differently for passengers now.”