DfT green light five new rail stations with £16M investment

Some £16M will be invested in new rail stations across England and Wales, the Department for Transport has announced.

The investment will see five new stations to be built, providing rail passengers with better journeys and improved rail services for local communities, as well as creating new opportunities for leisure, training, employment and business, and supporting new housing developments.

Due to complete by March 2020, all of the new stations will be accessible, with step-free access throughout.

The £16M investment is the second round of funding for the scheme. The initial scheme saw funding for new stations at Newcourt (Exeter), Lea Bridge (London), Pye Corner (Newport) and Ilkeston, with another at Kenilworth due to be completed later this year.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: “We are committed to improving journeys for passengers right across the country. This means delivering more trains, quicker journeys and making more seats available.

“The new stations fund is a great example of how our record investment in the railways and work with local authorities and industry is delivering better journeys for passengers and boosting local economies.”

David Biggs, Managing Director for Network Rail Property, said: “More people than ever are choosing to travel by train and this ambitious investment into brand new stations allows us to meet growing demand while providing greater connectivity across Britain.

“New stations are proven to have a hugely positive effect on local areas, acting as a catalyst for regeneration driving social and economic improvements. We look forward to beginning work on these schemes as part of our continued efforts to create a better railway for Britain.”

The stations involved in this round of investment are:

• Horden Peterlee, where a two platform station will increase access to employment opportunities in the area, assisting a community with low levels of car ownership.
• At Warrington West, the two-platform station will be developed to support the Chapelford Urban Village housing development and help reduce congestion in the area.
• Developing a station at Reading Green Park has the potential to unlock 7,500 new jobs and 1,500 homes, as the area is currently only accessible by road
• Bow Street will act as a park and ride site for Aberystwyth and Borth stations, helping alleviate traffic congestion in Aberystwyth.
• Portway Parkway, will serve an existing park and ride site, reducing congestion on inner Bristol roads.

 

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