Key facts
- Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh is seeking £45 million for Peckham Rye station upgrades.
- A £5 million investment has been allocated for improvements to Peckham Rye station.
- The £5 million investment will fund enhanced station facilities, increased gate line capacity, and better space utilization.
- Restoration of the station's 19th-century booking hall is part of the planned improvements.
- Platform and canopy refurbishments are included in the upgrade program.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has initiated a petition to secure £45 million for upgrades to Peckham Rye station, a move described as "scandalous" by critics. This call for substantial funding contrasts with a previously announced £5 million investment aimed at improving the station's facilities and passenger experience.
The £5 million program, funded by the Department for Transport, Southwark Council, and The Railway Heritage Trust, is set to enhance station amenities, increase the capacity of ticket gates, and optimize space to alleviate crowding. The project also includes restoring the booking hall to its original 19th-century character, improving lighting, and reinstating historic ceiling features. Additionally, two existing windows will be converted into new entrance doors to improve passenger flow, and two extra ticket gates were installed in September 2026, increasing capacity by 50%.
Further improvements involve refurbishing platform toilets and canopies on Platforms 3 and 4, and installing new passenger information screens. The project also aims to create a more welcoming gateway to the new Peckham Rye Station Square, a development by Southwark Council. Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development at Southwark Council, welcomed the £5 million investment, stating it will be "transformational" and a "great step" in providing deserving infrastructure for the area, while acknowledging the need for further accessibility improvements.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, expressed anticipation for delivering these improvements, which will result in a "brighter and less crowded station," ahead of potential future major upgrades.