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Monday 26 Mar 2007

NETWORK RAIL LIFTS LID ON CHESTER STATION

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Work is about to start on a new glazed roof over the concourse and platforms at Chester Station. The £4 million investment by Network Rail marks the start of the Chester Gateway Partnership's 2007 programme to revitalise the station and its surrounding area. This is the first sign of activity that local residents and visitors to Chester will see in a scheme which brings contributions from the Gateway partners valued at approximately £10 million. Network Rail's route director Peter Strachan said: "We are proud to be leading in the regeneration of the station and working alongside our partners to bring this massive project to a successful conclusion. "Chester is a true gateway to Merseyside, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, the North Wales coast, Holyhead and Ireland. As such it attracts visitors from far and wide. You only get one chance to create a first impression and nothing will create a lasting impression more than a leaking roof, which is why we are investing heavily to ensure passengers remain dry for years to come." The entire glass roof behind the original 1848 station building covering the concourse and platform three will be stripped of existing glazing panels, the metal superstructure will be cleaned and repaired where necessary before being rust-proofed and painted. New glazing will then be installed. Similar work will take place to the roof covering on the parcel platform, platforms one, three, four (a), five, six and seven. The work is split between high and low levels to the platform canopies. Network Rail's contractor GallifordTry is establishing a site compound before work to erect scaffolding and crash decking begins in early April. The entire roofing project is expected to be completed by Christmas 2007. It forms just one element of work funded by Network Rail at Chester station. The company's property arm Spacia has already invested £200,000 refurbishing the station's west wing offices so they could be occupied by Visit Chester & Cheshire. A further £200,000 will be spent refurbishing the east wing offices, with work expected to start early in 2008. 2008 will also see the start of £400,000 of stonework repairs to the main station building and plans are being drawn up for a further £400,000 of conservation work. In the meantime, work starts next month (April 2007) to install a new customer information system. The existing cathode ray tube television style system will be replaced by flat screen monitors in waiting rooms, on the concourse and in areas on platforms where passengers congregate. These can list up to 10 train departures per page and can also be used to display general passenger information. In addition to the flat screens there will be electronic 'finger boards' on every platform with information about the next departure. All the information screens will comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. Full details of the work of the Chester Gateway Partnership will be on display at a public information event being held in the Victoria Room of the Queen Hotel between 1pm and 8pm on Tuesday 27 March. Anyone interested in the scheme is invited to drop in at their leisure. The Gateway Partnership includes Arriva Trains Wales, Cheshire County Council, Chester City Council, Merseyrail, Merseytravel, Network Rail, North West Development Agency, Railway Heritage Trust, Virgin Trains, and Visit Chester & Cheshire. More information about the project can be found on the city council's website: www.chester.gov.uk