CONSTRUCTION is set to begin at at the county’s new Parkway station as new figures show Worcestershire is set to experience a 97 per cent growth in passenger numbers in the next 25 years.
The area for a 500-space car park is now cleared and groundworks are complete, paving the way for construction to begin and the foundations are being laid for construction of the main station building.
The steel frame will begin to take shape over the coming months, as well as the footbridge over the railway line from Woodbury Lane.
The station, located to the east of junction 7 of the M5, will be accessible for commuters and other rail passengers from all over the county. Many of these commuters currently travel outside the county to get their trains to London, the South west, South Wales or to the north or choose to drive to their end destination.
As well as being accessible, the new station will also significantly enhance the county’s rail links and connectivity with the southwest, south wales, the north and south.
Rail improvements in the county include stations such as Kidderminster, Parkway and work already completed at Foregate Street in Worcester, Malvern Link and Bromsgrove.
To support easy access to the station, a new roundabout is to be built and the road widened near the station site on the B4084.
Work run from March 5 until the end of September and temporary traffic lights will be in place.
Half of the existing carriageway will be removed so the signals will be in operation 24/7 for the duration of the works.
The signals will be manually operated during the day and sensor-controlled overnight and at weekends.
Coun Ken Pollock, cabinet member for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “The progress on the new Worcestershire Parkway station is great news for the county.
“The new station will help to ensure Worcestershire has much better connectivity with other parts of the country. This is one of the council’s key priorities.
“With our local economy already booming, this new station will help to continue our growth and benefit local businesses and residents.”
