The new Wakefield Westgate train station in West Yorkshire on the East Coast Main Line has been officially opened by the UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
Features of the new station include a new footbridge and lifts linking the platforms, a travel centre, a first class lounge and standard waiting area, ticket gates to improve passenger safety and combat fare evasion, and improved integration with local buses and taxis.
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In addition, the station also features covered storage for 30 cycles, free Wi-Fi provided by O2, and Subway, WH Smith, Greggs and Costa Coffee outlets.
Built with an investment of £8.6m, the station was opened for public use on 23 December.
The project, which began in early 2013, received £6.6m funding from the Department for Transport’s Station Commercial Project Facility fund and an additional £1m from the Access for All fund.
Leeds Studio designed the station, while Buckingham Group was the building contractor.
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By GlobalDataMr McLoughlin said: "Strong transport links are vital to ensuring that communities and local economies can thrive.
"West Yorkshire will also receive a major boost from our new high-speed rail link, which will fuel the local economy by around £1bn a year and could also free up capacity for improved rail services to Wakefield."
East Coast managing director Karen Boswell said: "We’re very pleased to have opened the new Wakefield Westgate station. It offers fantastic facilities for customers and is a station fit for the future of the city."
Image: McLoughlin and Boswell at the opening of Wakefield Westgate station. Photo: Gov.UK.
