Senior figures across Nottinghamshire came together today to celebrate the latest development and a significant milestone in the City’s near £1billion transport network improvement programme, as Nottingham Railway Station was officially opened.
The ceremony marked the completion of the extensive £60million renovation project, part of a broader programme of investment which will see connectivity and transport links to the City hugely improved. The Station will form the central point of Nottingham’s world-class transport hub, connecting with the £570million NET Phase Two tram extension which opens next year, improved car parking and integrated facilities for cyclists. Major works also underway across Nottingham, include the widening of the A453 and the £16million Ring Road scheme.
The Southern Gateway development around the station is also gaining momentum, linked to plans for the Broadmarsh and Unity Square redevelopments – fundamental investment projects supported by Nottingham’s ambitious Growth Plan.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “This is an exciting day for Nottingham as we celebrate the transformation of the station into a world-class transport interchange, which is creating unrivalled links to the City’s expanded tram network and other modes of transport, and meets the needs of today’s passengers and operators.
“The recent investments in the City’s transport and heritage led improvements around the station are putting Nottingham, our citizens, and our business community in a prime position to attract further investment, jobs and growth.”
The completion of the scheme, which marks the first major investment in Nottingham’s station in many decades has been successfully delivered by East Midlands Trains and Network Rail working in partnership with Nottingham City Council, Taylor Woodrow and the Railway Heritage Trust, with £12million additional funding from the country’s first Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) scheme.
Prominent business leaders and City officials were in attendance at the opening, including: Graham Cartledge CBE, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire; Councillor Ian Malcolm, Lord Mayor of Nottingham; Ian Curryer, Chief Executive, Nottingham City Council and Lilian Greenwood MP, Shadow Minister for Rail.
The Hon Sir William McAlpine Bt., Chairman of the Railway Heritage Trust, and Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Nottingham Economic Growth Board, attended to see first-hand the improvements that have been made for passengers, including the new tram link, Porte Cochere and Southern Concourse and meet some of the key people involved in the multi-million pound scheme, including East Midlands Trains’ station and customer services teams, representatives from the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail and Nottingham City Council.
Also present were Phil Verster, Managing Director LNE & EM Route, Network Rail and David Horne, Managing Director, East Midlands Trains: “We’ve had some fantastic feedback from our passengers about the high quality refurbishment of the station and everybody involved in the scheme should be very proud of what has been achieved.
“We now have a station that everybody can feel rightly proud of and is fitting for a key and important City such as Nottingham. We would like to thank all our partners in the scheme for delivering such an excellent station and thanks to all those here today for helping us to mark such a major boost for the City.”
