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Monday 1 Oct 2012

PASSENGER IMPROVEMENTS AT LEICESTER STATION UNVEILED BY CITY MAYOR

Region & Route:

Rail passengers in Leicester are enjoying improved facilities after Network Rail and East Midlands Trains completed a multi-million pound redevelopment scheme at the station.

Over £6 million has been invested to improve the station for passengers since work began in October last year. Today (1 October) Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, saw the improvements for himself and officially opened the revamped station.

The improvements for passengers include an improved station entrance with a light and bright open-plan retail area, a refurbished ticket office, improved signage, a new information point, a refurbished concourse and overbridge, plus renewal of station platforms. In addition, there are also newly refurbished toilets, better seating, refurbished waiting rooms and improved customer information boards.

Passengers using the station are also benefitting from improved station access, including a new and improved passenger drop off and short stay car park as well as a new taxi rank. The new look ‘Porte Cochere’ has retained the heritage feel of the station whilst creating a bright and welcoming new covered entrance.

The revamp was funded jointly by Network Rail, the Department for Transport’s National Stations Improvement Project (NSIP) and East Midlands Trains.

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail route managing director for the East Midlands, said: “The work has made the station more accessible, attractive and welcoming for visitors and locals alike.

“Leicester station is the gateway to the city. The station now looks and feels like a modern station and has radically improved the customer experience.”

David Horne, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains, added: “The completion of the improvement scheme at Leicester will deliver some real benefits for our passengers. We’re very pleased to have played our part in such a successful station redevelopment scheme and are certain that travellers will enjoy using the new-look Leicester station.

“We’re in the process of investing around £10 million to improve the stations on our network, and as such an important transport hub, it’s vital that Leicester offers a fitting gateway to the City. We would like to thank our passengers, staff and our partners for their support in this improvement scheme.”

City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, said: “Leicester Station is a fantastic building. This ambitious refurbishment has created a truly welcoming and attractive gateway into our city.

“I want to congratulate Network Rail and East Midlands Trains on this successful and sensitive redevelopment.”

The improvements at Leicester include:

· An improved station entrance with a light and bright open-plan retail area, a refurbished ticket office and a new information point.
· Improved station access with a new and improved passenger drop off and short stay car park and a new taxi rank.
· A refurbished concourse and overbridge, plus renewal and resurfacing of station platforms.
· New refurbished toilets, better seating and improved information boards.
· Refurbished waiting rooms throughout the station.
· A full repaint of the station to provide a complete refresh.