Wembley Central Station slammed for its poor fa�ade, sub-standard facilities and lack of trains

A train station billed as the gateway for the Olympics in Brent has come under fire from campaigners who have labelled it a gateway to hell.

Wembley Central in High Road has been criticised for its poor fa�ade, sub-standard facilities and lack of trains, despite the area undergoing extensive regeneration.

Martin Francis, a Wembley resident and Green Party member, said it must be improved ahead of the Games next month.

He said: “Having likened the station to an allotment shed in the past, I must now withdraw the remark as being an insult to allotment sheds.

“The contrast between the wreck of a station and the shiny development around it is stark.

“This is no way to welcome the world to an Olympic London borough as well as it being a daily insult to commuters.”

Thousands of sports fans are expected to use the station this summer to watch football at Wembley Stadium and gymnastics and badminton at Wembley Arena.

Cllr Daniel Brown, who is also the Lib Dem transport spokesman, says the station will struggle to cope with extra passengers during the Games.

He said: “As part of the Olympic legacy more Southern Rail trains should stop at Wembley Central.

“This would make it easier for local residents with heavy luggage and it would also make it easier for visitors to get to the stadium without going through central London.”

A spokesman for TfL said it is working with Network Rail to improve facilities.

He added: “We are keen that further improvements are made to Wembley Central before the Games.”

A spokesman for Southern Rail said that since May passengers have been able to travel from the station in both directions where it was previously largely for departure only. He added that it is looking at adding an extra two services per day, serving the station both northbound and southbound.