Major £5.8m train station revamp to begin

The project will include extensive landscaping and new street furniture

Salisbury Station forecourt is to undergo a major £5.8 million revamp to make it more accessible.

Following approval of final designs by Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR), preparation work is about to begin.

The main works will include sustainable travel facilities including a bus interchange, and will be carried out in three stages, the first expected to begin on 10 June.

Andrew Ardley, Regional Development Manager for SWR said the scheme will "make a real difference" to customers and will "make the station a high-quality gateway" to the city.

“The changes will also enable us to have new direct local buses connecting with rail services, which we know is really important to our customers," he added.

The revamp will also include extensive landscaping, including the planting of trees and shrubs, new street furniture and the introduction of wayfinding systems.

During the works, which are expected to take about a year to complete, standard pay and display parking will be removed, apart from parking at the western end of the car park.

Blue badge parking will also still be available, as well as taxi bays and Stonehenge bus and rail replacement bus services.

Alternative parking will be temporarily available at Central Car Park, with existing short-stay parking being changed to long-stay parking to support rail customers until the opening of the new station car park on Fisherton Street later this year.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said rail travellers should plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys during the works.