20 Oct New Station For Redditch

Redditch to get new £10m train station in bid to attract more visitors to the town

Councillors have said the town’s existing 50-year-old rail station gives a ‘poor’ impression of Redditch and the new one should attract more shoppers and people going there for a night out.

Redditch is to get a new £10 million train station. It’s hoped that the gleaming new station at the end of the CrossCity line will encourage more people to visit the town.

The station will replace the existing one which has been there for 30 years. It will be discussed by the county council on October 27 and is expected to be approved.

Councillors say it is necessary and long overdue as the current one gives a “poor first impression” of Redditch for anyone arriving by train. Neighbouring Bromsgrove had its old station replaced in 2016.

The current station dates back to 1993 and consists of just a small single-storey building with a ticket office and shop. There’s a 152-space car park with charges of £3.20 or £4.50 a day.

Trains run on the CrossCity line into Birmingham New Street via Barnt Green, Longbridge and Selly Oak every 20 minutes. At the moment it is a single-track line but it’s hoped that could change in the future, opening up new destinations.

County Councillor Mike Rouse, who represents Redditch, said it was a much-needed improvement. He said there will be a new two-storey modern building with a ticketing lobby at the platform level and the entrance and a cafe at the upper level.

This will provide a flat walk across from the train station to the Kingfisher Shopping Centre. In the car park there’ll be a new drop-off point and roundabout for entry and exit.

The entrance to the car park will also be upgraded and enhanced, especially to improve access for people on foot. Worcestershire County Councillors will discuss the plans at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, October 27 when it’s set to be approved.

It comes despite the number of people using Redditch train station plummeting. In 2018 there were more than one million passengers – in 2020/21 there were just over 200,000.

Most of this reduction is due to the pandemic and more commuters working from home. But councillors said Redditch’s ‘Railway Quarter’ urgently needed improvement.

In its report, the county council said: “It’s acknowledged that the current railway station is an important gateway into Redditch town centre. However, in its current state, it provides a poor first impression for anyone arriving by train.

“The redevelopment of the Railway Quarter as a strategic gateway development will be designed to preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area. It will provide better integration between the station and the town centre.

“Investment in the Redditch Railway Quarter is essential if Redditch is to be able to compete effectively with nearby towns for economic activity and growth, and to attract more residents and visitors into the town centre.”

Reproduced with consent from Birmingham Live