A dedicated EV charging hub has opened at Hatfield rail station in Hertfordshire as part of a wider programme of station improvements by train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
Featuring 27 chargers, the hub, installed by EV charging infrastructure provider Pod Point, is said to be the largest in UK rail. According to GTR, the installation will result in a 150% increase in public EV charging devices in the Welwyn Hatfield district.
This latest project follows the recent installation of 12 new charge points at Haywards Heath rail station, and is in addition to the existing 114 currently in place across the GTR network, bringing the total number of EV charging points to 153.
Tom Moran, managing director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “We have over 1,000 improvement projects happening across our network and many will help improve the sustainability of our stations, especially as our local communities seek out options for the greenest forms of travel.”
As well as aiming to make its stations more environmentally sustainable, GTR said it hopes the upgrades will make the journey experience more comfortable, safer and smarter for passengers, with much of the work based on customer feedback and community groups.
According to GTR, there is local demand for charging infrastructure following a study of EV sales ‘hot spots’. As such, the train provider said it heat-mapped key locations when planning the improvement works.
A further 230 stations will be upgraded as part of the programme.
