SAFFRON WALDEN: Sir Alan Haslehurst opens new National Express East Anglia car park at Audley End

A NEW 150-space car park has opened at Audley End Station in anticipation of expected further growth in passenger numbers. An investment of almost �700,000 was pumped into the scheme by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) to bring the station s total car

A NEW 150-space car park has opened at Audley End Station in anticipation of expected further growth in passenger numbers.

An investment of almost �700,000 was pumped into the scheme by National Express East Anglia (NXEA) to bring the station's total car park capacity to approximately 700 spaces.

New and additional CCTV equipment, lighting and pay and display machines have also been installed

Sir Alan Haselhurst officially unveiled the car park on Friday.

He said: "Audley End is an important commuter station on the West Anglia line. Its catchment area is very wide and there are simply not bus routes available to everyone.

"Hence the need for adequate car park space which helps to ensure that precious time is not lost in getting safely parked with a ticket purchased.

"It is good to see provision being made in anticipation of increased train use."

Over 100 million passenger journeys are made on NXEA services each year.

The improvements at Audley End were part of a project to improve capacity on the East Anglia network which will see 188 additional train carriages and extra car parking introduced at key locations.

Talking about the opening at Audley End, deputy managing director of NXEA, Mark Phillips, said: "I am delighted that construction on the new and additional car park has been completed on-time and the extra 150 spaces will make it easier to park at this busy station."

He added that more NXEA service improvements are to follow, including a fleet of 30 brand new trains on the West Anglia routes in 2011.