LONDON’S Liverpool Street station, which is used by 120 million people a year, has been named Rail Station of the Year in the annual London Transport Awards.

The station, said to be the most-used in London, has seen major investment in the past 12 months. Its old-style flapper boards on the main departures and arrivals board were re-placed last year by LED – Light Emitting Diode – technology in a £2 million project by Network Rail.

The new system was de-signed to make it simpler for passengers to find out where their next train is leaving from and be given the most up-to-date information.

With the liquid-crystal black and bright orange display, the new boards are easier to both read and maintain. The system’s features also include: a dedicated Stansted Express panel; a ‘fastest service to’ panel; linked, automatic PA announcing; the flexibility to display information about service alterations and engineering works.

Patrick Hallgate, Anglia route director for Network Rail, said of the investment: “This is all about making people’s journeys easier. Liverpool Street is the gateway to the City and is used every day by thousands of people from East Anglia and Hertfordshire, as well as international travellers going to and from Stansted Airport.

“The new screens are in time order rather than by route, which was sometimes a little confusing for people, and they give us the flexibility to provide additional information if we need to. It was sad to see the last of the traditional flappers go but we must move with the times and provide what’s best for passengers.”

The station, largely rebuilt in the early 90s, is a major terminal for people working in the City of London, arriving from Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridge-shire, Norfolk and Suffolk on National Express East Anglia services.

Last year staff had to deal with a number of high profile incidents involving thousands of passengers delayed due to overhead line problems.

A spokeswoman for Net-work Rail, which runs the station, said: “Liverpool Street is London’s busiest station – twice as busy as Heathrow – with around 120 million people passing though each year, so it’s a real testament to all the station staff and everyone involved in running the station that it’s got this vote.”

Meanwhile, London & Continental Railways received a special Project of the Decade Award for on-time delivery of the new international station at St Pancras, further enhancing the case for new high- speed rail lines in the UK.

c2c’s East Ham depot team won the Public Transport – Transport Team/Partnership of the Year Award, beating both Docklands Light Railway and One Railway (now National Express East Anglia), and was highly commended in the Public Transport Operator of the Year award.

Julian Drury, MD for c2c, said: “The teams have worked tirelessly this year to deliver a punctual and reliable service for our customers and so can take pride in a well-deserved award and in the runner-up position.

“Everyone at c2c takes great pleasure in receiving this award and we’re looking forward to meeting the challenge to build on our successes next year.”

The awards, which celebrate excellence in London’s transport industry, were presented by broadcaster Jeremy Vine at the London Hilton, Park Lane Hotel. 
The overwhelming response to this year’s award nominations resulted in fierce competition and tough decisions for the judges.