A £1.5million revamp of Stratford train station gets underway on Monday.
The work, part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan, will include new waiting and seating areas, better retail facilities,
accessible toilets, and bike racks. Work is expected to be complete in July.
The main station building and ticket office will be closed to passengers for two weeks from Monday.
It will mean passengers will be unable to buy advanced fares or season tickets for more than seven days from the station until a temporary ticket office is installed.
The station’s ticket vending machine will still be available, and mobile ticket sellers will be on hand at certain times.
Rod Sillence, from Network Rail, said: “The improvements will give station-users a more pleasant experience with the re-building of the booking hall, an improved seating area, and retail offering.
“The scale of this work has significantly increased since it was first announced in 2015, and these improvements will provide a 21st century gateway for this historically significant, world-famous town.”
Brenda Lawrence, head of stations for West Midlands Railway, said the investment would ‘significantly improve’ the experience for passengers in the long run but there would be changes around the station while the work was carried out.
She added: “Tickets can always be purchased online through our website or app, and those looking to renew season tickets or purchase advance fares, should do this either online or at an alternative station until full temporary ticket office facilities are in place.
“We would also advise passengers to plan in advance and leave a bit of extra time to get to and from platforms while work take place.”
Warwickshire County Council transport spokesman Coun Jeff Clarke said the station was getting the refurbishment it needed.
He added: “Once complete, Stratford station will better serve the residents and thousands of visitors who come to Stratford every year to see the many sights in the town.”
The project is being funded by £1.3million from the Department of Transport’s National Stations Improvement Programme fund, together with a further £220,000 from the county council.
