An image has been released for the comprehensive refurbishment of Crawley station with building work already underway for the first stages of the project.

The project is set to provide visitors to the town with a brighter welcome alongside improved facilities, with the ticket office set to start its makeover shortly and will see ticket gates moved, the area reorganised and will see new glazing installed which will allow more light in, brightening up the concourse.

Further work will also be going ahead to improve toilets and also the installation of a longer London-bound platform canopy to keep passengers dry when it’s raining.

A temporary station building is currently being used to serve passengers of Thameslink and Southern whilst this initial stage of work is underway.

Later stages of the project will see a wider scheme planned for the area surrounding the station and will include plans to repair the public footbridge, which crosses the railway alongside further major improvement to the station’s facade.

Network Rail’s route director for Sussex, Katie Frost, said: “This is a fantastic project that will give passengers a much better experience when they catch a train or arrive in Crawley. It’s fair to say that the station was designed and built in a time when fewer passengers we using the railway and it’s great to start to bring the station up to modern standards.

“Once the major work to the interior of the station starts in 2022 we’ll be moving station facilities to a temporary building in the car park, so I’d like to thank passengers in advance for the change to their usual journeys.”

Southern’s Customer Services Director Chris Fowler said: “We welcome this comprehensive refurbishment. It will create a better experience all round for our customers, with more space, refurbished toilets and better cycle parking. We thank customers for their patience while the work is under way, and we’re very grateful to our tenant, Metro Cars, for their flexibility.”

Councillor Peter Smith, Crawley Borough Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said: “The whole Town has been waiting many years for improvements to Overline House to come forward and we welcome the commencement of works by Network Rail to modernise and improve the station ticket hall. We look forward to seeing the broader Station Gateway development get underway as soon as possible afterwards.”