‘Britain’s worst station’ reopens after £5.6m overhaul

Redevelopment works at the Grade II listed Wakefield Kirkgate station finished yesterday (14 September) after significant delays in 2014 when dry rot was discovered on the site – pushing its final deadline to this year.

The £5.6m overhaul of the Grade II listed station, once labelled “Britain’s worst” by former transport secretary Lord Adonis, began in 2013 with plans to develop a new ticket office, retail outlets, offices and waiting areas by 2014.

Customers and the local community will also be served by increased capacity, with the station’s cark park now 79% larger than it used to be.

Cllr Peter Box, chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and leader of Wakefield Council, said: “Good transport links are key in creating the right environment for business to grow and Kirkgate provides an impressive gateway to this part of the city. I am confident this will boost the investment and economic potential in Kirkgate and help further revitalise this area of the city.”

The project was backed by £1.5m funding from the Department for Transport, as well as £750,000 from the government’s Yorkshire & Humber European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Other partners included Network Rail, WYCA, Wakefield Council, the Railway Heritage Trust, Grand Central Rail and Northern Rail.

Transport minister Andrew Jones MP said: “The transformation of Wakefield Kirkgate will unlock huge benefits for passengers, the local economy, and the wider regeneration of the Kirkgate area.

“Investing in schemes like this has a vital role to play in creating a Northern Powerhouse, and follows our earlier £6m investment in the new station at Wakefield Westgate – giving this city two excellent gateways.”

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In March 2013, regeneration charity Groundwork helped raise £4.6m for the upgrade project, when works were expected to begin within two months.

Earlier this year the Heritage Lottery Fund also awarded a £80,000 grant to support the transformation, complementing the multi-million pound investment with the intention to preserve the station’s legacy.

The revamp of the station was originally fast-tracked by a ‘Staff Our Station’ campaign by local newspaper the Wakefield Express, which pushed for improved safety at the building following a rape, serious assaults and several robberies.

Lord Adonis visited the location in 2009 and dubbed it “the worst medium-large station in Britain”, after which Network Rail drew up restoration plans in collaboration with Northern and the local council.

The upgrade is also part of a £27m development programme in Kirkgate set to regenerate the area over the next five years.