03.06.14
Major Nottingham rail overhaul complete
Nottingham station’s new Southern Concourse has officially been opened, marking the culmination of a £150m investment in the city’s railway.
Completely glass-fronted and with lift and escalator access, it is hoped the new Southern Concourse will help Nottingham to secure its place as a ‘world-class’ transport hub.
The opening of the Southern Concourse is part of the £150m transformation of Nottingham station, which has taken place over the last two years.
Improvements delivered under the project include a new modernised station entrance complete with a new pedestrianised area, a new ticket office, a950-space multi-storey car park, a refurbished First Class Lounge on platform 5, and a new cycle hub – offering changing facilities, cycle hire and access to secure cycle parking.
During the last two years, Network Rail and its partners have added a new platform to the station and left ‘passive provision’ for a future platform 8. Platforms were resurfaced and a canopy was built on platform 7 (formerly platform 6), 143 new signals were put in place, and six miles of new track was laid.
Additionally, three signal boxes and the Trent power signalbox were closed and replaced with two new workstations at Derby signalling centre. Two level crossings were renewed at Carlton and Colwick, and two more were closed and replaced with footbridges – Sneinton and Trent Lane.
Discussing the station improvements, David Horne, managing director for East Midlands Trains, said: “We know that everybody has been eager to see this latest major phase of the Nottingham redevelopment project, which will connect the station and car park, resulting in quicker and more convenient access for our passengers.
“The new Southern Concourse will be a great addition to the station and passengers will now really start to benefit from the improvements that will deliver a state-of-the-art transport hub that the city can really feel proud of.”
The transformation of the station has been funded by Network Rail, East Midlands Trains, The Railway Heritage Trust and Nottingham City Council.
Justin Page, area director for Network Rail, said: “The completion of the Southern Concourse marks the culmination of a £150m investment in Nottingham's railway, and will leave the city with one of the most modern integrated transport hubs in Britain.”
Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South and shadow rail minister, said: “The ambitious project to transform Nottingham station is creating a gateway and transport interchange befitting the city and I’m delighted that the new Southern Concourse has now been completed.”
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