Extended Platform Opens At Station

The extended southbound platform at Market Harborough railway station has finally opened this morning – together with the subway to it from the booking hall.

It means passengers can now get on and off trains much easier.

Extended platform opens at Market Harborough Railway Station

The longer platforms were part of the £53m upgrade of the station, although commuters had been questioning why it was taking so long for the London-bound one to be fully opened.

Platform two has been extended to 265 metres to allow for 250-metre trains to call there. Work has also taken place to reduce the stepping distance between the train and the platform, making it easier for people to board and alight trains.

Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “We are delighted to have opened the newly extended platform two at Market Harborough station which will make travelling easier and more comfortable for all those who use it.

“We have carried out a vast amount of work to improve the railway in this area, as well as preserving the heritage of the station building, and we look forward to the final improvements to the customer toilets, platform one waiting room and cycle hub facilities completing.”

Neil Grabham, Customer Service Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “We are really pleased that platform two at Market Harborough station is open from today and we are grateful for the patience and understanding of our customers. The extended platform will make it easier for passengers to get on and off the train.

Passengers are continuing to push for proper toilet facilities to be re-opened – they currently have to use temporary ones outside the station.

Network Rail says it is working to upgrade them, but hasn’t said when the main toilets will be re-opened.