Gloucester railway station car park closing today for the next six …
The car park outside the front of Gloucester railway station is shut from today as a multi-million pound project gets underway. It means motorists and pedestrians heading to Gloucester railway station[1] will face disruption for the next six months.
The southern car park is closed to all traffic from Bruton Way and Metz Way as part of a project to redevelop and upgrade the station forecourt, car park and subway. The project is set to be complete in the Spring of 2024.
For many years NHS staff working at the nearby Gloucestershire Royal Hospital have expressed their fears of using the poorly-lit “grim tunnel” as they made their way into the city. For many it is long overdue a facelift.
Parking will continue to be available in the northern car park on Great Western Road. Pick up and drop off and the taxi rank – which are normally outside the front of the station – will relocate here too.
If the overflow car park is full those looking to park for extended periods can use any of the council’s pay and display car parks nearby. Pedestrian and cycle access will continue to be available via a segregated walkway which can be accessed from Bruton Way.
The works will also see the long-awaited improvements to the subway – also closed to the spring, including removing the blind corner in the subway and making it step free so that it is fully accessible to all. It will also include better lighting and CCTV.
The project is the next phase in the development and improvement of the station and is jointly funded by GFirst LEP, GWR, Network Rail, Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester City Council and the Department for Transport.
Rail customers are able to use the bridge through the station. This includes holders of the Pay As You Go smartcard. Details of how to apply for the smartcard are on our website https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/smart-tickets/payg. The card ensures the best daily or weekly walk-on fare (calculated automatically) for rail users, and will also allow access through the station.
Ben Scott, GWR station manager for Gloucester, said: “Working together we have been able to build on the previous investment and pave the way for further improvements. This would not have happened without the combined efforts of local government, national government, the rail industry and the local enterprise partnership.
“This is a perfect example of how working collaboratively can support the communities we serve to thrive.”
Robin Basu, Network Rail’s project sponsor, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Gloucestershire County Council, Great Western Railway and other key partners to facilitate improvements to Gloucester station. This next stage of the multi-million-pound project builds on the ongoing work to improve accessibility at Gloucester station.
“Effective, accessible transport links are vital and we will continue to work with GWR and other partners to ensure Gloucester station is accessible and welcoming for everyone.”
References
- ^ Gloucester railway station (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucester Docks warehouses to be finally sold by council months after luxury hotel plans scrapped (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucester’s GL1 and Oxstalls sports park may re-open ‘within weeks’ under plan to save jobs (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)