Official opening of Central Station forecourt improvements
The newly improved forecourt at Exeter Central station was officially opened today after a £660,000 enhancement project.
The scheme was joint funded through Devon County Council’s successful bid to the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund to improve access to stations, as well as £185,000 from Exeter City Council and a further £160,000 from Network Rail.
The improved layout includes a new bus shelter, taxi provision, free and user-friendly pick up and drop off facility for rail users,formal cycle parking as well as loading bays for local businesses and their customers, and a dedicated car club parking space in partnership with Co-Cars.
The ribbon was cut this morning by Lord Mayor of Exeter Rachel Lyons and Devon County Council chairman Bernard Hughes OBE.
Councillor Jill Owen, County Councillor for St David’s and St James, said: “It has been a long wait but the end result is very pleasing. Coupled with the new paving area at Northernhay Gate next door, the front of Central Station enhances the general street scene and now properly reveals the old station building. Both travellers and pedestrians in Queen Street have something to celebrate.”
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “Exeter is forecast to be among the biggest growth cities within South West of England by 2026. It is vital that we provide a robust railway to support this growth and most importantly, the city’s economy.
“By working with partners to improve Exeter stations, we are sprucing up the railways’ shop-front, revitalising the city’s environment as well as building Exeter Central into a welcoming gateway.”
Access to Stations is a partnership between eight local authorities and sustainable transport charity Sustrans. The project, at 20 stations across England, is aiming to increase travel by foot, bike and public transport to and from railway stations by improving access, and providing comprehensive travel information.
Although an Invitation to Tender to run a staffed Cycle Hub at Central Station attracted no bids, First Great Western is now preparing a separate scheme to install additional secure and sheltered cycle parking, and public bike repair facilities, on the platform later this year.
“It’s a great example of partnership work between Devon County Council and Exeter City Council and the railway operating companies” said Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Member for Economy and Growth.
“This forecourt now creates a much better first impression for the growing number of visitors arriving by train. These improvements have been an aspiration for many years and will help make it easier for people travelling to and from Central Station.”
The scheme was completed under budget and so further improvements to the forecourt canopy are being prepared by First Great Western and the installation of an interactive information point is also being planned similar to those already installed in Princesshay and St Thomas.
Councillor Rachel Sutton, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for City Development, said: “These improvements bring the forecourt into the 21st century and in line with the rest of the work going on in the city. For many people this is their first view of Exeter, so we needed to get this right and I believe we have.”
The scheme also comes as part of a wider range of investments in Devon’s rail links as part of a project for the ‘Devon Metro’ which will see several new stations opened in and around Exeter
“This station was actually completed in 1933 and when it opened such was it importance that they actually had a big dinner for 500 people in Northernhay gardens” continued Cllr Leadbetter.
“It’s rather interesting that all these years later there’s another renaissance in railway travel because we’re opening up Newcourt station in Exeter; we’ve got Cranbrook station and hopefully Marsh Barton next year.”
County Councillor for Newton and Pinhoe, Richard Westlake, agreed that there is now a new renaissance in railway travel: “No doubt about that, there’s been a major increase in usage especially on the Exmouth line where we’re looking at now over a million journeys per year.
“we’re also seeing a major increase on the Barnstaple line and on the line up from Paignton which unfortunately, at Dawlish, has been stopped.
“But we are seeing people looking at rail as their alternative away from the car and that’s really good news.”
While repair work is continuing on the Dawlish Line several alternative rail routes are now also being considered to improve the resilience.
Potential include re-opening the Okehampton line as well as the so-called Dawlish avoiding route.
Cllr Leadbetter said: “What we do know is that we have to keep the line open through Dawlish so any other line has to be in addition to and as well as; not instead of.”
