Major Investment to Restore Peckham Rye Station and Support Regeneration

A £5 million programme of improvements at Peckham Rye station is set to modernise the facility while supporting wider regeneration plans for the area. The investment aims to deliver a brighter, less congested station that is easier for passengers to navigate, while also enhancing its role as a gateway to Peckham.

Funding for the scheme includes almost £4 million from the Department for Transport, with Southwark Council and The Railway Heritage Trust contributing more than £1 million between them. The work will be carried out over the next 18 months and is designed to deliver both immediate passenger benefits and longer-term value by safeguarding planning consents for future upgrades.

Key elements of the project will focus on improving passenger flow and restoring the station’s historic features. The Booking Hall will be returned to a 19th-century appearance, with full repainting and upgraded lighting. Ticket machines will be relocated to free up space, while the cash machine and its enclosure will be removed. Walkways and stairways will be repainted, and canopies on platforms 3 and 4 will be refurbished.

Measures to tackle congestion will include the installation of two new doors and an extended gate line at the entrance. Platforms 3 and 4 will be remodelled to create additional space, alongside refurbished toilet facilities. New information screens on platforms 1 and 2 will be introduced to encourage passengers to spread out more evenly, helping to ease crowding at busy times.

The improvements are also intended to better connect the station with Southwark Council’s plans for Peckham Rye Station Square, a new civic space designed to create a safer and more welcoming environment. Completing this work now will ensure planning approvals for future improvements remain valid, allowing further proposals to move forward quickly when funding becomes available.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said:

“We look forward to delivering this investment to give passengers a brighter and less crowded station, ahead of the proposed major upgrade that we still hope to secure funding for in the future. These short-term changes will make a real difference to people’s journeys and ensure the station is part of Peckham’s regeneration story for years to come”.

Lord Hendy, Rail Minister said:

“I'm pleased that nearly £4m of Government funding is being invested to make journeys through Peckham Rye simpler and more convenient for passengers. Over the coming months, commuters will see real improvements to their daily travel, supporting Peckham’s future and benefitting the wider local community”.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Service Director for Southern and Thameslink, said:

“Peckham Rye is one of our busiest stations with more than seven million passengers passing through each year. This significant investment will relieve congestion and create a much more pleasant station environment which, taken together, will make a real difference to passengers and the wider community.”

Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development said:

“The new £5m investment into Peckham Rye Station will be transformational in delivering major improvements to the station and making it a better place for residents and commuters. We welcome the significant investment the Department for Transport has committed to making this happen. We know there will still be more work to be done in making accessibility improvements to the station and we will keep making the case for further investment, but this is a great step in giving the people in the Peckham area the infrastructure they deserve.”

Image: Network Rail