Wolverhampton's railway station set to fully open in spring
Wolverhampton's new railway station is set to open fully to the public in the spring, as work on the exterior of the building nears competition.
Contractors Galliford Try have installed the steelwork, clad the building and lifted in the floor and roof slabs to make it watertight.
It is part of the second phase of works to the station, which will see more retail units, a customer waiting room and help point introduced.
Councillor Stephen Simkins, Wolverhampton's economy chief, said: "The railway station is a beacon of the multi-billion-pound regeneration that is taking place across our city. It is an extraordinary project and I am delighted all the hard work is getting the recognition it deserves.
"This will help lever in more investment into the city and benefit future employment, helping to relight our city and encourage families to work, live and enjoy Wolverhampton with their children.
"A lot of hard work has been done by the council, Ion Developments and partners to make the transformational scheme a reality.
"The completed Interchange will connect train, tram and bus in one place and, alongside a thriving commercial district will ultimately provide a gateway to our city that we can all enjoy using - and be proud of."
The new station is part of the city's £150 million Interchange scheme which has been named the West Midlands Property Awards 2020 Regeneration Project of the Year.
Magnificent
The project – which aims to improve bus, tram and train connectivity – scooped the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) West Midlands Planning Excellence honour in November.
Work has started on the station's canopy cladding, ceramic tiling and mechanical and electrical installations and roof finishes, ahead of final phase work prior to opening.
Phase one of the new railway station opened to the public at the end of May and was handed over to West Midlands Railway (WMR), with the project split into two to ensure it didn't impact on train services from Wolverhampton.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “It’s brilliant that despite the ongoing pandemic, work on this magnificent new railway station has continued and supported local construction jobs for local people throughout.
"Once complete, the station will link up with both the Midland Metro extension along Pipers Row and the city centre’s bus station, meaning residents in Wolverhampton will be able to travel seamlessly across the West Midlands – and beyond when HS2 is up and running.
"These improved transport links after decades of under investment means people will have better links to jobs and opportunities, and this will play a key role in the economic regeneration of the West Midlands both post-pandemic and beyond."
Ion Associate Director Chris Jones added: "As we approach completion this spring, we look forward to the city and its residents being able to enjoy this new state-of-the-art railway station, alongside its new facilities. The awards and recognition the Interchange project has received is testament to the collaborative approach and excellent teamwork from all the partners involved."
