Next stage of £150m transport hub project starts

Work has started on the next stage of constructing the new Wolverhampton Railway Station building which forms part of a wider £150m scheme.Demolition works have been completed and contractor Galliford Try has now moved piling machinery on site to create the foundations for the first section of the building.It follows the demolition of the former British Transport Police building, and a small section of the current station building next to platform one, as part of works over the last two months.It is the next stage in delivering a £150m transport hub to provide a commercial gateway to those entering the city by national rail, bus or tram.The first section of the new station building is expected to become operational to customers in autumn 2019, when phase two of the programme – bringing down the remainder of the current station building and completing the new build – will also start.The new railway station building to serve the city will be fully open in summer 2020.Once work on the new station building is completed it will pave the way for the Midland Metro Alliance to begin the final link of the new city centre tram extension.The organisation is currently delivering the Pipers Row and Railway Drive phases of the extension to the railway station.Wolverhampton Interchange Partnership consists of City of Wolverhampton Council (CWC), Ion, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), West Midlands Trains, Virgin Trains, Network Rail, Midland Metro Alliance, Canal & River Trust, and Black Country LEP.