IMPROVEMENTS TO Stoke-on-Trent station feature in a Transforming Cities Fund bid submitted by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
The council has put together a £69.4 million programme, with the bulk of funding from the Department for Transport and around £10 million of local authority and third party contributions. The city had already received £5.6 million in an earlier TCF round (Tranche 1) for works associated with the station, including the relocation of one of the existing car parks, and creation of a cycle parking hub and electric vehicle charging points for taxis.
The latest submission includes plans to turn the station into ‘a next generation multi-modal and multi-functional Mobility Hub’ This includes the expansion of the booking hall area and reconfiguration of internal space and a new east to west footbridge connection across the railway. This would be divided into two, with a free to access route for non-rail-users and a cross-station route within the revenue protected part of the station. Improved bus connections to the city centre are also planned in conjunction with the local bus operator as well as an improved interchange in front of the station.
The bid also includes proposals for improvements at Longton and Longport stations, building on East Midlands Railway’s franchise commitments to upgrade their facilities. Proposals for Longton includes lifts to provide step-free access, platform shelters, a cycle hub, an enclosed concourse area and improved public realm, while at Longport a new accessible footbridge and cycle and car parking are planned.
