03 November 2011
Metro together with Network Rail, Northern Rail, Grand Central, Wakefield Council, Railway Heritage Trust and Groundwork Wakefield are working together to secure funding to bring much needed improvements to the station.
The thousands of rail passengers who pass through Wakefield Kirkgate will begin to see major improvement works starting early 2012.
The National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) which is a Department for Transport funded project is delivering in the installation of customer information screens. Train service information will be provided by departure screens on platforms and a summary of departures screen in the entrance lobby.
NSIP has previously funded work at the station in 2009 which included:
- Resurfacing and remodelling of the station car park which included formation of a bus turning circle for 'Wakefield freecitybus';
- Enhancements to CCTV including live monitoring;
- Refurbishment of the subway and ramps;
- Refurbishment of the entrance lobby.
Network Rail will be carrying out major works to refurbish the canopy over the Leeds bound platform and remove all life expired and unused canopies. Proposals also include the removal of the island platform spine wall (subject to Listed Building Consent) which remains in place following the removal of the station roof during the 1970s. New subway entrances will be created using reclaimed material from the platform spine wall and modern glazing.
Plans to restore the Grade II listed station building are continuing to be developed. The £4.2 million scheme driven by Groundwork Wakefield and multiple funding partners will see the building brought back to life with numerous uses including:
- Groundwork office space;
- Conference/meeting room facilities for community use;
- Small business enterprise units - for new businesses;
- Passenger facilities with cafe, retail facility including ticket selling and exhibition area to promote green technologies, heritage and public transport;
- Increasd car parking;
- Improvements to the station frontage including resurfacing and landscaping.
Focus on bridging the funding gap continues with plans to start works on site during 2012 subject to funding availability.
More current projects
