Wolverhampton's railway station back fully open as tram line work continues
Wolverhampton's rebuilt railway station has been fully opened up to the public again one year later than planned.
The main part of the station was knocked down and rebuilt in two stages as part of the £150 million Interchange project to improve transport links in the city.
The revamp of the station started in 2018 and was due to be completed in 2020 but has now belatedly been officially completed after bosses commissioned the second part of the station.
However construction in the city centre for the transport project is far from over, with work due to continue on connecting the tram line from St George's to the train station 400 metres away.
The compound in front of the station will remain in place while the final stage of the West Midlands Metro extension is completed. Further work is expected throughout the summer and winter months, including finishing the works along Pipers Row near the Crown Court.
Paul Brown, construction director at the Midlands Metro Alliance, said: "Construction activity has now begun at the Station Plaza in what is a significant step forward for the scheme.
"I am thrilled that these works to lay the final section of track for the new line are now underway and people can see how much closer we are to finishing. The team have worked extremely hard since returning to the city in March and I am proud of what has been achieved during these challenging times.
"We will have a presence in the city centre into the winter and will continue to work closely with Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Business Improvement District and our partners at Transport for West Midlands to minimise impact wherever possible.”
Councillor Stephen Simkins, deputy leader and cabinet member for city economy at Wolverhampton Council, said the changes at the railway station demonstrated how the city is being "reimagined and reinvented".
"A lot of hard work has been put in by everyone on the Interchange scheme and it is great to see both phases of our new railway station up and running," he said.
"The station is symbolic of the multi-billion-pound regeneration that is taking place in our city.
"It has been a long-held ambition to build a railway station befitting of our great city and connect train, Metro, cycle and bus in one place to provide a gateway to Wolverhampton that everyone can be proud of. As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions in the future, people will feel the full benefit of what these impressive new facilities have to offer.
"The railway station development is a big part of how we are reimagining and reinventing our city centre to help boost the local economy, create jobs and make the most of our canalside areas, where we have major housing plans."
Work to rebuild the station took part in two phases.
The first included installing six ticket vending machines, a new home for British Transport Police, toilets, accessibility and baby changing facilities, three retail units, train crew accommodation and a large concourse.
The second phase included three more shop units, a customer lounge and a help point.
As well as the tram line being extended to reach Wolverhampton's railway station, a new line is being built from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, serving Dudley.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: "Wolverhampton Railway Station is a crucial part of public transport plans for the West Midlands, and I am delighted that we’re now able to officially open the second half of the station to the public.
"It really is an incredible gateway to the city and I hope residents can feel a great sense of pride in it.
“The completion of phase two is also brilliant news for our Metro extension to the station, as we’re now able to get shovels back in the ground and complete the works. This means residents in Wolverhampton will soon be able to travel seamlessly across the wider West Midlands and beyond once we have the HS2 stations up and running."
