Press release -
Brand-new artwork unveiled to brighten Luton station
Network Rail have issued the following press release about fifteen new mural panels installed at Luton station:
Network Rail has partnered up with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and local artist Aimi Rix to create striking artwork which was unveiled yesterday to improve passenger experience at Luton station.
The artwork has been created by local artist Aimi Rix and is made up of 15 pieces covering themes of nature, the railway and local Luton landmarks, with particular emphasis on the people of Luton.
The murals are displayed throughout the station and have been designed in bright, striking colours, celebrating the history of Luton.
Three of Aimi’s paintings are commuter murals, highlighting the connection between passengers and the railway to Luton.
Any visitors to the station can view the paintings on platform walls, on the footbridge, stairs and in waiting rooms.
The original canvases from the station will be donated to help raise money for local charities.
Julie Evans, Programme Manager for Network Rail’s East Midlands route said: “It has been great to work with GTR and local artist Aimi Rix to create vibrant artwork that brings a welcoming feeling through the station which sees hundreds of people pass through every day.
“This project has been underway since October 2022 and it is brilliant to see the vision come to life, with the aim to improve passenger experience.”
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “Our customers’ happiness and mental wellbeing are huge priorities for us, and Luton’s powerful new mural will give everyone a welcome uplift. Aimi’s work really brings the wow factor.
“We recognise the great benefits public art can bring to communities, and we’ve commissioned over 200 artworks by creative local people across our network in recent years.”
Robert Drysdale, Embedded Inspector for British Transport Police said: “The new artwork adds a real splash of colour and a vibrant extra dimension to Luton station.
“We want to make sure that stations are appealing, attractive and safe to everyone who works at or uses them, and this project is a great example of how we are working together with our partners at Network Rail and GTR to achieve that."
Dave Brown, Senior Programme Manager for the Samaritans said: “This artwork project really brightens the station and will also brighten many people’s days as they pass through Luton. It’s wonderful to see this project increasing the connection between the railway and the local community and enhancing people’s experience of using the railway in the process.”
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About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
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Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
- Thameslink – cross-London services between Bedford/Peterborough/Cambridge and Brighton/Horsham/East Grinstead, and between Luton/St Albans and Sutton/Wimbledon/Rainham; plus services between London and Sevenoaks
- Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn
- Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)
- Gatwick Express – fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
www.southernrailway.com, www.thameslinkrailway.com, www.gatwickexpress.com, www.greatnorthernrail.com