02.01.15
Delayed new Northampton station to open on 12 January
The new £20m Northampton railway station will open on 12 January 2015, London Midland has confirmed.
It was originally due to open in October, but the project was delayed by ‘unforeseen contractual issues’ with regards to power supply.
The new station will replace the existing 1960s building and is more than twice the size of its predecessor.
The station is fully accessible, with a lift between the car park entrance and the booking hall, with more space designed to meet the needs of the 2.8 million annual passenger footfall.
As part of the new station, the booking hall leads to a new overbridge with covered stairs and lifts to all platforms. There are also eight ticket gates on the main concourse; more than double the amount in the old station building. This is expected to help reduce queuing time and enable passengers to move through the station and down to platforms more easily.
There will also be four new shops added to the station in the near future, including a WHSmith and Starbucks on the first floor and a Coffee Republic and Enterprise car rental outlet on the ground floor.
Terry Strickland, area director for Network Rail, said: “The new station is a fantastic addition to the town. Its modern design and new facilities provide a fitting gateway to Northampton and is the latest example of investment in the rail network to meet the demands of an increasing number of passengers.
“We have all been frustrated by the delay to the opening but I hope everyone will agree the new station was worth the wait when it comes into use on 12 January.”
The station project has been led jointly by Network Rail, Northamptonshire County Council and Northampton Borough Council.
The government has invested £10m, while other partners – including Network Rail and Northamptonshire County Council – are meeting the remainder of the £20m cost.
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