A new ticket gateline has opened at Gatwick Airport railway station with extra-wide openings throughout for passengers with luggage.

It's part of a massive upgrade to create a bigger, brighter station, with much improved accessibility for passengers. It includes a second station concourse, a new station entrance, wider platforms and eight new escalators, five new lifts and four new stairways.

Last month, Network Rail unveiled improved train service information screens and Govia Thameslink Railway and Gatwick Airport now provide seamless free WiFi, with no need to switch provider when walking between the airport and railway station. Brand-new WiFi launched at Gatwick Airport station (networkrailmediacentre.co.uk)

The refresh of the existing concourse is entering its final stages as more concourse space is created for passengers, and platforms 5 and 6 are expected to reopen in the New Year. The entire project is on target to complete next spring.

Govia Thameslink Railway's project change manager David Stronell said: "The project's going really well and already we're seeing the benefits of the upgrade. It made sense to make every one of our ticket gates extra wide because we have so many customers travelling with luggage. It's all part of our drive to make the station is easy to use."

Network Rail, Project Director, Simon Newland, said: "The Gatwick Airport Station Project will transform the passenger experience at the station, helping people get on and off trains and platforms more easily, speeding up their journeys to and from airport terminals, and supporting a more reliable train service on the Brighton Main Line.

"The installation of new wide gate lines, new customer information screens and work to open up the existing concourse are the latest in a whole package of improvements we are delivering for passengers who use Gatwick. Passengers can look forward to more improvements next year as we work to reopen platforms 5 and 6 and finish work on a new second concourse that will double the space for passengers".

Michelle Stanton, Gatwick Airport's business change manager, said: "We're at an exciting stage as improvements to Gatwick's train station come online. Extra-wide tickets barriers make passing through with luggage much easier and, although not yet finished, the new bigger, brighter refurbished concourse has already transformed the passenger experience. The giant new concourse is also taking shape where more escalators, lifts and staircases will help create a seamless transition from station to airport when it opens next year."

The project involves the Department for Transport, Network Rail, GTR, Gatwick Airport Ltd and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership. The principle contractors are Costain.