Cannock railway station to get £231,000 makeover

The plans include extending the platform, improving access, creating a 300-space car park, adding spaces for bikes and improving information points.

The total cost is expected to be £400,000, with £129,000 being contributed from the joint Investment Fund agreed by Staffordshire County Council and £40,000 from the West Midlands Rail Executive and West Midlands Trains.

The district council will meet next week to decide on whether to agree a contribution.

Council leader George Adamson said: “It is vital that we upgrade Cannock Railway Station.

"It is very basic at the moment and it is going to be very busy by the end of 2020 because of the opening of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet village.

“The hundreds of extra visitors will be chaos if we do not make the improvements.

“We need to start work as soon as possible and this is a big step in making sure that happens.”

The work is deemed necessary to cope with an estimated three million visitors per year to the area, two per cent of which are expected to arrive at the station, due to the multi-million pound designer outlet village which is due to open in 2020.

The unstaffed station, which has two platforms, will also have to cope with an increase of train services due to the £100 million of investment into the electrification of the Chase Line by West Midlands Trains.

The half-hourly service beyond Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International will be increased and there will be an hourly direct service to London Euston as a result.

A report to the council reads: “Cannock Railway Station currently offers a very basic level of facilities to passengers and presents an unattractive gateway into the district.

"The station is in need of upgrade and investment to provide a modern and inviting facility for rail passengers and visitors.”