From today the new Mitcham Eastfields station will be served by both Southern and First Capital Connect trains. Merton Council Leader Councillor David Williams met Cabinet member for Regeneration, Councillor Diane Neil Mills, off the 9.02 train, destination Victoria this morning.
Commuters, business and leisure travellers are now able to take the train from Mitcham Eastfields directly to Central London via Victoria, Blackfriars and London Bridge, in less than 20 minutes. The connection into St Pancras also makes Europe a stone’s throw from Mitcham. In the other direction, passengers can travel easily into Surrey and to the south coast.
The first brand new suburban station since World War II, Mitcham Eastfields is situated in zone three and is the result of a partnership between Merton Council, Network Rail, Southern, First Capital Connect and Transport for London.
Merton Council is the first London authority to install one of Network Rail’s new generation of sustainably built train stations. This is in line with Merton Council’s commitment to improving buildings and transport systems to reduce carbon emissions.
Designed to keep energy use to a minimum, the ticket office is constructed from recyclable material where possible. Forty-eight sq m of solar panels on the roof will harness energy from the sun to power lighting and other electrical appliances. Carbon emissions will be reduced by 10% and rainwater harvesting will also be possible.
Merton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Diane Neil Mills said: “We are proud that Network Rail has chosen Mitcham as a place to invest £6 million in building one of its pioneering modular, flexible and environmentally-sound stations. It’s testament to the co-operation between all the partners and the interest and support from Mitcham residents over the years that the station is here today.
‘I would like to record my personal thanks to Network Rail, Southern, First Capital Connect and Transport for London for their cooperation. I am also enormously grateful to all of the officers at Merton Council for their tireless effort in providing the necessary support to deliver not only the station but all of the other related improvements in Mitcham.
“The opening of the station is a major part to Mitcham’s regeneration. The provision of a mainline station that is 800 metres from the town centre will transform the employment opportunities available to the residents of Mitcham as well as make Mitcham itself a more attractive employment centre.’
Fiona Taylor, Network Rail Route