Member of Parliament for Gloucester, Richard Graham MP, visited Gloucester station on Thursday, 21 December to view the progress being made on its multi-million-pound redevelopment.
A major part of the project is removing a blind corner in a subway under the station, making it step-free so it is fully accessible to all, and having the benefit of better lighting and CCTV.
Transport for Wales train at Gloucester station. // Credit: Roger Smith
A problem with upgrading the subway is an 11kV National Grid cable running through the underpass that provides back-up power to the nearby Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, but work to protect the cable to ensure continuity of supply has been successfully completed. Whilst the station improvements works are ongoing, the subway will remain closed, with reopening planned for next summer.
Among other improvements are the redevelopment and upgrade of the station forecourt and the southern car park, which was closed in October to facilitate the work. Although the southern car park is closed, parking is still available in the Great Western Road car park, which now accommodates the taxi rank and pick-up and drop-off points. If that car park is full, there are several council pay & display car parks nearby.
Although the subway is closed, rail customers can use the footbridge through the station, including those who hold a Pay As You Go smartcard, which automatically calculates the best daily or weekly walk-on rail fare. Applications for a smartcard can be made online here.
Throughout the work, pedestrian and cycle access to the main station entrance will be maintained via a segregated walkway from Bruton Way.
Improvement of the subway is the next phase in the station's development and improvement, and is being jointly funded by GFirst LEP, GWR, Network Rail, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester City Council, and the Department for Transport.
Richard Graham MP said: I'm delighted to see progress, there is more to do, but completing this key piece of work to the national grid cable is significant and I am delighted that GWR, Network Rail and the National Grid team were able to pick up the challenge I set to co-ordinate efforts.
GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, Tom Pierpoint, said: It was great to have Richard here today. The underpass is a key element of the station improvement, supporting both rail users and the community of Gloucester, and completing the work on the cable is a significant milestone.
Robin Basu, Network Rail s project sponsor, said: “We re pleased to be working with Gloucestershire County Council, Great Western Railway and other key partners to facilitate improvements to Gloucester station. This next stage of the multi-million-pound project builds on the ongoing work to improve accessibility at Gloucester station. Effective, accessible transport links are vital and we will continue to work with GWR and other partners to ensure Gloucester station is accessible and welcoming for everyone.”
