New charging points and parking bays are being installed on the Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern railway network as part of an Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure installation by Rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

There will be 179 charging points over 37 stations for public use by the end of January 2022.

This second wave follows on from their installation in September 2020 at Hatfield of a dedicated EV charging hub with 27 points, which at the time was the largest in UK rail.

GTR is currently installing EV charging points at another 10 stations on the Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern routes and include :- Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, Elstree & Borehamwood, Cooksbridge, Harpenden, Watton at Stone, Bayford, Palmers Green and Potters Bar.

Pod Point, who is a leader in EV charging infrastructure, is working in partnership with GTR to help them deliver their commitment on greener travel options by installing the EV charging points to meet demand for electric vehicles.

GTR is working hard on improving stations on their network, which covers over 230 stations and 1,000 projects.

Infrastructure Director Keith Jipps at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “Getting the train is a greener way to travel, but we need to think about how people are getting to our stations. By improving EV infrastructure across the network, we’re providing better accessibility and convenience for those who already use electric vehicles, whilst encouraging others to consider EV to make their total journey more sustainable.”

MP for Hitchin and Harpenden Bim Afolami welcomes the new charging points at Harpenden station. He said: “If we’re serious about encouraging the public to switch to greener modes of transport, then there needs to be suitable infrastructure in place to allow this to happen. The new EV charging points at Harpenden station will provide huge benefits to the local community and encourage more residents to consider buying an electric vehicle.”

Founder and CEO of Pod Point Erik Fairbairn added: “Pod Point’s vision is for travel that doesn’t damage the earth and this partnership is exciting as it allows UK commuters to experience truly integrated electrified transport. It also makes it easier for drivers to choose electric, by offering a convenient alternative to home or workplace charging – particularly important to those without off-street parking. The partnership is setting a blueprint for EV charging across the rail industry and we’re looking forward to powering up even more stations as the roll-out continues.”

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