Work is about to start on the long-awaited £1.85m upgrade of Swindon railway station’s forecourt – a project seen as essential to lifting the town’s image and an important part of the wider town centre redevelopment.
The nine-month programme of major improvements will give priority to pedestrians, safely separating them from traffic.
There will be new passenger drop-off areas, a clearly-defined taxi rank with 15 spaces and a new bus lane and shelter.
The whole area will be made more attractive with granite paving, trees, improved signs, lighting and seating.
The scheme also aims to overcome one of the key issues faced by visitors to Swindon arriving by train – how to reach the town centre by foot.
As well as better signs, the design will clearly indicate the route by continuing the forecourt’s granite paving over the Station Road pedestrian crossing and along to Wellington Street.
Ian Piper, of Forward Swindon, the Council’s regeneration company which is leading the project, said the existing station area did not yet reflect the town’s important strategic location between London and Bristol.
“We are delighted to be driving this project for the benefit of Swindon,” he said. “The result will be an impressive entry point into Swindon for business visitors and residents. “
Forward Swindon has negotiated finance for the scheme and will be overseeing the project. More than half the funding has come from central Government with the remainder from Swindon Borough Council and Network Rail.
Damian Poulter of main contractors Britannia Construction said: “Being involved in this key regeneration project for Swindon is exciting for us. Over the next nine months we will be working to ensure minimum disruption and to keep station users, local businesses and stakeholders well informed of progress and access routes in and around the station."
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail, added: "The recent upgrade in the station by Network Rail and the plans ahead for the station forecourt will make a big difference for the community and businesses that rely on the railway for thousands of journeys every day.”
The forecourt work comes ahead of Swindon town centre’s planned 17-acre, flagship Union Square mixed-use development.
