07.02.17
Wolverhampton reveals contractor for new £132m railway station
The Wolverhampton Interchange Partnership (WIP) has announced its preferred contractor to deliver the city’s new £132m railway station.
Galliford Try – the leading UK construction group responsible for Wimbledon Centre Court’s retractable roof and the Forth Road Bridge replacement crossing – has now been appointed and has begun undertaking pre-construction services on the project.
The WIP’s plans to demolish the existing station and replace it with a more modern development were approved by Wolverhampton City Council last November.
Cllr John Reynolds, Wolverhampton council cabinet member for city economy, said that 2017 is set to be a big year for the interchange project, with £3.7bn of investment either on site or in the pipeline across the city.
“Enabling works are starting on the railway station building and the people of Wolverhampton can look forward to seeing the emergence of a station befitting of their city,” Cllr Reynolds said.
“As part of this regeneration it is crucial visitors to our city get the best first impression possible and their travel experience is enhanced – this new state-of-the-art station will deliver that.”
The work on the new railway station, which follows the opening of a new multi-storey station car park, which was completed last month, will see the station fitted with a larger passenger concourse and enhanced ticket office in the style of Birmingham New Street station, along with improved retail and café facilities and better taxi rank provision.
It is expected that the construction of the new station building will be completed by early 2019, around the same time as the new Midland Metro tram extension to Wolverhampton city centre which has already begun enabling works and will include a new stop at the station.
Simon Courtney, area director of Galliford Try, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred contractor on this significant regeneration project for Wolverhampton.
“We look forward to successfully working with our client and wider stakeholders to provide the local community with an enhanced new station and improved facilities.”
Wolverhampton station is one of the most important transport interchanges in the West Midlands, but there are concerns that the interchange project may cause disruption across the rail network. But David Whitehouse, interchange project manager for Virgin Trains, said that the operator will work closely with its partners and customers to keep any disruption to a minimum while the project is completed.
(Image c. TfWM)
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