Passengers at London’s Euston station will be allowed to board some trains earlier in an attempt to improve dangerous overcrowding.
Network Rail has said people travelling on 40% of Avanti West Coast services will be able to board up to 20 minutes before departure.
In the run-up to Christmas, this will increase to 55% of services.
It follows a report from watchdog London TravelWatch that warned that passengers at Euston are being put “in danger” by “high levels of overcrowding”.
The watchdog blamed last-minute announcements for passengers rushing to platforms.
Last week, so-called continuous boarding was launched, which involved people travelling on London Northwestern Railway services to Birmingham being let onto the platform as soon as the preceding service has left.
Other measures such as turning off a large advertising screen while its usage is reviewed, creating more concourse space, upgrading toilets, and enhancing how the station operates during disruption, are part of Network Rail’s five-point plan for improvements.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh ordered Network Rail to improve how it manages Euston station. Pic: PA
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh ordered the government-owned company to review and improve how it manages the station.
“For too long, Euston station simply has not been good enough,” she said.
“That’s why I have tasked Network Rail and operators with delivering a clear plan to alleviate some of the issues passengers are facing while we work on a long-term solution for the station.”
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Gary Walsh, director for Network Rail’s West Coast south route, said getting passengers to their services in good time is at the “heart” of improvements.
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway, said the company will monitor the impact of the changes closely.
Plans to create a larger concourse at the station are subject to Network Rail securing more government funding.
Labour ministers are also yet to decide whether HS2 will be extended to Euston or will only run to and from Old Oak Common in the west London suburbs.
Major work to prepare the site for the high-speed railway was halted by the Conservatives last year.