Brand new look now destined for station

An electronic customer information system is to be installed as part of work to revamp a Staffordshire railway station.

Hednesford station on the Chase Line is being refurbished as part of the Government's £150 million national stations improvement programme. The 'real time' information system will have electronic information screens and help points. There will also be a new public address system, new waiting shelters, and a new feature entrance and gateway.

London Midlands is also putting in credit card operated ticket vending machines and is looking at whether new lighting can be installed and other repair work included in the project.

A report on the improvements will be presented to Hednesford Town Council on Tuesday by clerk Peter Harrison.

He has been in touch with train operators London Midlands to find out more about the work which is due to be completed by April 13.

The company is investing its allocation from the improvement programme on a number of stations along the line.

Hednesford councillors have welcomed the plans to revamp the station in Market Street.

They hope the work will tie in with the wider town centre redevelopment scheme.

The council is looking at ways to fund a new sculpture to be sited at the entrance to the station.

The LNWR operated the original station in Hednesford which closed to passengers and goods traffic in 1965.

It reopened in 1989 as the terminus of the first stage of the reopened Chase Line from Walsall to passenger trains.

At first, there was just a single platform; however, when services were extended to Rugeley Town in 1997, a second platform was added.

The popularity of the station has grown and annual passenger usage has increased to more than 100,000 a year since the station was reopened.

The station has a free 58-space car park which is open 24 hours a day and proves a popular choice for passengers.