Platform 1 at Coventry Station in Warwickshire is now a lot brighter thanks to the replacement of all 27 skylights in the platform’s roof.

The skylights were fitted in the 1960s, and all 27 skylights were replaced as part of a £600,000 investment by Avanti West Coast, Network Rail, and Railway Heritage Trust. New signage was installed throughout the station at the same time.

The previous skylights were at the end of their lifespan, extremely dirty, and impossible to access for maintenance. The replacement skylights let more natural light through, and consist of eight panels that can be removed individually for cleaning. New energy-efficient LED lighting has also been installed to reduce the station’s energy consumption.

Replacement skylights and new signage are part of ongoing improvements at the station where, three years ago, an £82 million purpose-built new main building and multi-storey car park with a connecting footbridge to all four platforms was opened.

Since then, new retail outlets have opened in the new station building, and a new courtyard area has been built on platform 1 where customers can wait for their trains.

Avanti West Coast has also been working with the Railway Heritage Trust to renovate the station’s unique tiled walls and provide a more-prominent place to display the nameplate from the steam locomotive City of Coventry.

In 2023, an exhibition of photographs showing the Windrush generation arriving in Britain was staged at the station.

“Walking along Platform 1, the work has made a remarkable difference where customers will see a more vibrant look and feel from the natural light streaming through the new skylights. Coventry station boasts a rich railway history and has always been an important gateway to the city. It is undergoing a huge transformation to ensure that rail customers are given the best experience possible through easy accessibility, availability of shops, simple wayfinding and a relaxing atmosphere.”

Dean Duthie, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at Avanti West Coast