Overview

This station has six platforms served by Greater Anglia and East Midlands Railway services. It was step-free throughout and mostly all undercover, apart from some sections of the platforms. Outside, there was a small car park with some disabled spaces, a set-down section for those being dropped off, a taxi rank and bus connections. Inside, there was a manned ticket office with outward-opening automatic doors, as well as three ticket machines in the entrance hall. The station then opened up into a larger space with lots of natural light and several shops including WHSmith, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Subway and AMT Coffee. Lots of options for your travelling snacks! In the main part of the station, there was a manned assistance and information desk in the centre. Behind this there was also an assistance office for those that needed, or had already booked, passenger assistance. There are boarding ramps available, although the Greater Anglia trains have a retractable step that bridges the gap between the train and the platform. It meant that there was only a small lip to navigate, so I didn’t need a boarding ramp. I could have even got on and off independently if I didn’t have my luggage with me! The station has a small amount of seating available in the main part of the station and there were also some benches on each platform too. There were male and female toilets available and while the station did have an accessible toilet, I wasn’t able to use it as it was out of order when I visited. The platforms are partially covered by canopies but large parts of the platforms aren’t covered. The accessible carriage on the Greater Anglia trains mainly seemed to end up in the section that was open to the elements. The station had a hearing loop available but I didn’t see any other alternative formats being used at the station.

Transport & Parking

The station has a small car park in front of the station. This included five accessible parking spaces. There was also a taxi rank just and a set-down point for those being dropped off. There are a number of bus services that stop by the station. The buses that stop are operated by First, Konect or Simonds. The buses that stop near the station include: 3B, 5B, 7, 8, 8A, 14, 14A, 15, 15A, 16, 16A, 17, 25, 26, 26A, 31, 33, 33A, 35, 57, PR3 and X13.

Access

The station has step-free access throughout the building and platforms, so there aren’t any lifts, stairs or escalators to navigate. The main entrance had doors that were propped open when I used the station. It seemed they may be left closed in colder or wetter weather and would then be automatic upon approach. Most of the shops inside had doors that were left open. The doors to the ticket office and the waiting room were also automatic upon approach. I didn’t notice any plug sockets around the station so I wouldn’t have been able to charge anything while I was waiting for my train. There were a number of benches within the station but these got full quite quickly at busy times. The platforms were partially covered by a canopy and they also had benches at certain points. They all had tactile paving marking the edge of each platform. The signage in the station was clear and I found it easy to navigate the station with the signage available. While they do have a hearing loop available I didn’t notice any other alternative formats being used.

Toilets

While there is an accessible toilet at this station, it was out of order each time I visited.

Staff

The staff were all really helpful and friendly. They proactively asked me about my journey and whether I had booked or needed assistance as I approached the information desk. As I’d booked assistance beforehand they were expecting me and knew exactly who I was and which train I was boarding when I approached them. This made me feel really secure at the start of my journey as I knew they not only had all the details, but that they’d taken the time before I arrived to familiarise themselves with my journey.

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