A £4½ million package of improvements to Doncaster railway station will be officially opened by the Rail Minister, Tom Harris MP, on Wednesday 6 June.
The event will mark the completion of the improvements to the station. The new facilities form the final phase of the Frenchgate development, the first phase of which opened almost one year ago on 8 June 2006.
The improvements, which include the installation of new passenger lifts and a direct link into Frenchgate, will enhance access at the station for all users.
The new link provides direct access from the railway station into Frenchgate (with dedicated station car parking for 500 cars), the bus interchange and beyond into the town centre, in a safe, secure and weather protected environment.
The installation of passenger lifts means that passengers with disabilities, or who have luggage or prams, no longer have to use the goods lift or struggle on the stairs as previously.
The project has also included a complete refurbishment of the subway and staircases, plus new lifts that connect the concourse with all platforms. A disused staircase, which runs from the subway to the main concourse, has also been refurbished and is now open.
CCTV and new signage has been provided to increase safety and security. New retail attracted by the development includes a WH Smith newsagent in the concourse and Costa Coffee outlets on each platform and the concourse.
Roy Wicks, Director General of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), said; “As part of the partnership agreement to develop the new Frenchgate Interchange, SYPTE and Doncaster Council undertook to carry out these much needed works to Doncaster Station.
“For years the only access to the platforms has been via the stairs or the goods lift. The new lifts alone will make a massive impact on the quality of many people’s public transport experience in Doncaster.”
GNER Chief Executive Jonathan Metcalfe added: “The welcome improvements at Doncaster come at a time when the station is busier than ever, with GNER’s recently-introduced additional services to London and to Leeds.
“Doncaster is an important interchange between long distance and regional rail services as well as with other forms of transport. These improvements will help it continue to efficiently perform this role.”
The station has been improved with:
• three new dedicated passenger lifts between the concourse, subway and platforms
• a direct, covered link to Frenchgate and the bus interchange
• easy and convenient access to the airport shuttle services in the bus interchange
• a completely refurbished subway and staircases
• new CCTV to improve safety
• five new retail units, including a WH Smith newsagent and three Costa Coffee kiosks
• a new Travel Centre and fully refurbished waiting rooms and passenger toilets on each platform
• modern passenger information systems that are more easily read by those with impaired vision.
The pioneering £200 million Frenchgate development opened last June and provided Doncaster with one of the most modern transport interchanges in the country and a 350,000 sq ft extension to the existing Frenchgate Centre.
The new Frenchgate has provided Doncaster with:
• a new bus interchange to be used by a projected 12 million people each year
• an accessible and high quality shopping environment
• a complete refurbishment of the existing Frenchgate Centre
• 750 new jobs
• 24 hour pedestrian access through the centre
• 24 hour Customer Service Officers and CCTV
• 900 new car parking spaces for shoppers
• 500 new car parking spaces for rail users
• 800,000 sq ft of retail space in over 100 units
• safe, secure and weather protected access into the town centre.
SYPTE is a member of the Travel South Yorkshire partnership.
The aim of the partnership is to bring public transport together, encourage more people to use it, make it easier to understand and deliver new, innovative public transport products and services.
Travel South Yorkshire is the new identity of the public transport network in South Yorkshire.