New-look Wolverhampton Station formally opens

The second half of the new-look Wolverhampton Station has formally opened to the public today (Monday 28 June).

Following the completion of main construction earlier this year, the final section of the station building has now been fully commissioned and authorised by the rail authorities. The station is part of a £150million scheme to build a bus, Metro, cycle and train interchange in Wolverhampton.

Phase one of the station has been open to the public since May last year and includes six ticket vending machines, new British Transport Police facilities, toilet, accessibility and baby changing facilities, three retail units, train crew accommodation and a spacious concourse.

Phase two includes three more retail units ready to be fitted out as well as a customer lounge and dedicated customer help point.

The works compound in front of the new station will remain in place to enable Midland Metro Alliance (MMA) to complete the final section of the Wolverhampton city centre Metro extension to the station plaza, creating a fully integrated transport hub with the neighbouring bus station.

City of Wolverhampton Council deputy leader Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “I am delighted that we as a council have delivered on this vision thanks to strong collaborative work with all our partners.

“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. 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 station befitting our great city and to connect train, Metro, cycle and bus in one place to provide a gateway to Wolverhampton that everyone can be proud of."

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Wolverhampton Station is a crucial part of public transport plans for the West Midlands, and I am delighted  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.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for West Midlands Railway, said: “These fantastic new facilities have given the people of Wolverhampton a railway station they can be truly proud of. Our customers can now enjoy a brighter, more convenient travelling experience for decades to come.

“With increasing numbers of people returning to the railway it is a pleasure for our station team to welcome passengers back to such an impressive new environment.”