04.07.19
£80m Plymouth station refurbishment plan revealed
Masterplans for a major refurbishment of Plymouth’s railway station have been revealed.
Plymouth City Council approved a £26m funding package in 2018, working with Great Western Railway (GWR), Network Rail and the University of Plymouth to draw up plans for a large-scale regeneration project for the station and surrounding areas.
The document revealed today will be the blueprint for the project, which includes plans to demolish the station’s current car park and build a large university building.
Council leader Tudor Evans said: “This is a massive regeneration scheme involving key organisations in Plymouth all committed to creating a real sense of arrival, a wow, when people come here by train.
“It’s a hugely complicated scheme with lots of different elements. The university’s vision for the tower means we have an anchor tenant but we now want to know the initial thoughts of those who use the station the most.”
GWR Plymouth Station Manager Sara Rogers said: “There are almost 2.5 million passenger journeys through Plymouth every year, and it is easy to see why the station is regarded as the gateway to the South West.
“New Intercity Express Trains, providing almost 25% more seats on every train than the ones they have replaced are already in service, and from December this year we will see more frequent and faster journeys.”
The entire scheme is expected to cost around £80m and has already received some financial support from the Cabinet Office, which has awarded £500,000 for feasibility and planning work.