Media centre

Thursday 15 Feb 2007

FLINT STATION RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Southern: Wessex

| Wales & Western

| Southern

An extensive £1 million programme to refurbish Flint Station has been completed. Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks marked the grand opening, with representatives from the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail, Flintshire County Council and Arriva Trains Wales. The project included structural works, modernisation of the ticket office and waiting areas, provision of a disabled toilet and new staff toilets and the restoration of a number of features such as windows, doors and fire places. Work started in March 2006 and was funded by Network Rail, Flintshire County Council and the Railway Heritage Trust. Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation & Networks, said: “The Welsh Assembly Government has been pleased to support this truly partnership project under the TAITH Public Transport Package, and may I thank our partners – Flintshire County Council, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust and Arriva Trains Wales, on the work they have carried out on this £1 million pound project to refurbish Flint Station." The structural elements of the work, consisting of dry rot works, structural brickwork repairs and the major over haul of the roof structure and floor and ceiling joists, were carried out by Network Rail. They contributed £422,000 to the project, a large proportion of which funded the ground floor works. Peter Strachan, Network Rail's Route Director, said: “As part of our wider investment in the railway in Wales, we are really pleased to have been involved in this project. The scheme was delivered on time and on budget, whilst dealing with all the complicated issues that arose with bringing a listed structure up to modern standards and at the same time maintaining the original features of the building.” Flintshire County Council contributed £500,000 towards the refurbishment of the booking office and the first floor. The first floor will be occupied by Taith, the public transport joint board of the six county authorities in North Wales. Leader of Flintshire County Council, Councillor Aaron Shotton, said: "Flintshire County Council has always recognised the importance of Flint Station as a gateway for the county. We have worked with the train operators to improve the range of services stopping here. We now have passenger facilities which are a credit to the town and county. I am grateful for the support we have received from our partners, Welsh Assembly Government, Network Rail, Railway Heritage Trust and Arriva Trains Wales and I hope that working together, we can provide further improvements to Flint Station and other stations throughout the county." The Railway Heritage Trust gave £190,000 to the works for the retention of the sash windows, architrave to doors and windows, cast iron pipes and gutters, along with the preservation of the Station’s stone features. Jim Cornell, the Railway Heritage Trust’s Executive Director, said: “The Railway Heritage Trust is delighted to have had the opportunity to be a partner in this significant repair and restoration project. Work of this nature, to such an important heritage structure, fully encompass one of the Trust’s key objectives and significantly helps to conserve the building through regeneration. I congratulate all who have been involved in such a successful initiative.” Arriva Trains Wales now have a modern booking office and waiting area set within the listed building. Ian Bullock, Arriva Trains Wales' Customer Services Director, said: “Arriva Trains Wales welcomes this £1 million investment in Flint Station which has been very sympathetic to its architecture. The modern booking office and waiting area will certainly provide improved facilities for our customers.”