A NEW transport interchange at Audley End station is to be officially unveiled by Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haslehurst today (Friday Nov 25).

The project has been funded and delivered by Essex County Council in partnership with train operator National Express East Anglia (NXEA) to help increase the use of sustainable modes of transport for access to the station for buses, cycles and taxis, especially from the Saffron Walden area, and to improve access for pedestrians.

The transport interchange features include:

• Introduction of a ‘one-way’ system to ease traffic flow in the station car park

• Creation of a bus turning area at the south end of the car park

• New bus stop and shelter with provision for ‘real-time’ bus information

• Dedicated taxi-rank immediately outside the station

• New, covered cycle parking area

• Improved layout for disabled parking

• Provision of improved local bus information at the station

Customer services director for NXEA, Andrew Goodrum, said: “The completion of this further, welcome investment in improving customer facilities at Audley End station will help in encouraging even more people in the area to use their local station.

“I am very grateful to Essex County Council for their support in delivering the new transport interchange which has completed a major transformation of the station over the past year.”

Essex County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transportation, Cllr Tracey Chapman, said: “Essex County Council is pleased to support any project which is going to help ease the stress of travelling for Essex residents.

“The improvements made at Audley End station will help ease traffic flow and provide better facilities for people to complete the journey to and from Audley End station whether on foot or by bus, bike, car or taxi.

The new transport interchange marks the final stage in the development of a number of significant improvements recently implemented at this important station, which includes a new 150 space car park extension, new footbridge and passenger lifts, a fleet of brand new Class 379 trains on key services to and from Liverpool Street.

From the December 2011 timetable, the new trains will increase seating capacity and improve journey times to London by up to nine minutes.

• WHAT do you think of the new improvements? Do they go far enough? E-mail your thoughts to us at editor@saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk