John Collins, Bournemouth’s Station Manager and Councillor Mike Greene, Cabinet Member for Transport
A first phase of improvements to make Bournemouth Station more accessible and welcoming for the millions of visitors and commuters travelling through this part of town have been completed.
Delivered by Bournemouth Borough Council and working in partnership with South West Trains and Network Rail, the improvements have seen significant changes to the layout at the station, to provide easier and more accessible bus, taxi and cycling facilities as well as better signage.
The new layout also includes dedicated facilities for short stay car parking and rail passenger drop-off that had temporarily been relocated to the London-bound side of the station during construction.
In addition to the changes taking place on the ground, further improvements are planned to the train station’s passenger facilities and a refurbishment and replacement of the entrance canopy. The initial entrance works formed part of the council’s Three Towns Travel commitment to tackle Bournemouth’s future traffic congestion.
Councillor Mike Greene, Cabinet Member for Transport at Bournemouth Council, said; “We are delighted that through additional government funding, and with investment from our partners South West Trains and Network Rail, we have been able to make improvements to Bournemouth Station.
“Bournemouth is rightly seen as a fantastic place to live and work, so in the future we can expect more people, more jobs and more commuters. In turn that means a need for easier, safer and more attractive sustainable travel options and the work we have carried out are part of that programme. The improvements at the station will provide a better experience for those arriving to Bournemouth by coach and train, as well as those changing bus as they travel around town. ”
John Collins, Bournemouth’s Station Manager for South West Trains, said, “Bournemouth is one of our busiest stations and a vital transport link for local residents and visitors throughout the year and these improvements will make a real difference for passengers.
“More than 2.5million journeys are made to and from the station every year and passengers will now benefit from improved facilities in the station, including extended canopies on platforms, as well as better links with other transport options outside the station.
“We are delighted to have worked closely with Bournemouth Borough Council and Network Rail to deliver these improvements and we look forward to passengers enjoying the new facilities.”
