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Tuesday 10 Feb 2009

MORE CAR PARKING SPACES FOR WIGAN RAILWAY STATION

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Network Rail in partnership with Virgin Trains is adding 50% more car parking spaces for rail passengers at Wigan North Western station. When completed it will provide an additional 135 car parking spaces. The new 403-space multi-storey car park is expected to be finished by the end of 2009.

Work is due to start at the end of February on the site of the existing car park and passengers are advised that as a consequence it will be closed throughout the construction period. Passengers driving to the station should use the Chapel Street car park as an alternative.

Virgin Trains Station Manager for Wigan North Western, Linsey Robinson, said: "We would urge all customers who travel to North Western station by car to allow extra time for their journey to the station, to ensure that they are still able to catch their intended train."

David Golding, Network Rail's Route Enhancements Manager said: "More passengers are now travelling by train than ever before and the demand for rail travel is set to rise. We predict that many of these extra passengers will drive to the station, putting more strain on the car park. We need to increase the number of parking spaces to cater for this demand so, working with Virgin Trains, we have committed £90 million to transform parking at many of the stations on the west coast main line over the next 18 months."

The new car park will be a three storey glass-clad structure. Wigan is the first location on the national rail network where this particular design will be used for station parking. Each storey will be a different colour.

The contract for the construction has been awarded to Balfour Beatty and piling work for the superstructure is due to begin in early March. Once the steel framework is in place, prefabricated steel decking will be slotted together before concrete is poured over it to form the floors of the car park. The last part of the major work phase will be to clad the structure in toughened glass.

There are plans to install two wind turbines on the roof to help power lighting etc. The turbines will be what is described as a vertical turbines, with the ‘sails’ rotating round the central pole on which it is built. The system, designed by Quietrevolution Ltd, is quieter and creates less vibration than conventional turbines, captures wind from any direction and can therefore be located within built up areas rather than needing a clear flow of air to operate. It is also much more pleasing to the eye than a coventionally designed turbine.

Virgin Trains and Network Rail are working closely with Passenger Focus to minimise the inconvenience to customers during the work to improve car parking at North Western station.

Managers from Virgin Trains will be at the station on Thursday 12 February to answer questions from customers and hear their views about car-parking arrangements during the work that is due to start on 23 February. Managers will be available between 06:00 and 08:30, a period that includes the busiest time for long-distance passengers who park their cars before catching a train.