Railands and Chester Station Gateway

The project

£11 million of investment has been made into the Chester station gateway project over several years - regenerating the station and its surroundings. The overall aim being to create a key gateway into the city and enhance other historically important buildings along Brook Street and City Road.

What the project has achieved

• Improved environment
• Retail and commercial space
• Better facilities for passengers
• Improved travelling experience for public transport users
• Improved traffic flow
• Conservation and enhancement of Grade II* listed station building
• Increased investment and development opportunities in the area (see Chester Central Business Quarter)
• Vacant and derelict areas brought back into use
  
  

Completed Schemes

• Station roof repairs with glazing and improvements to the train shed were carried out by Network Rail
  
• Repairs to the frontage building façade on the West and East Wings. Conversion of first floor vacant space in the East Wing to modern office accommodation within a restored Grade II* listed building. An architectural lighting scheme has also been installed illuminating the architectural detail and improving the safety of the area after dark
  
• Improved customer facilities and a new station concourse were completed by Arriva Trains Wales including refurbished toilets, café and retail facilities, entrance gates and a CCTV system. A new dedicated space for visitor information in an underused room  in the frontage building, accessed from the main consourse (opposite the café) has been added
  
• The Station Square was completed in December 2007 for eased management of traffic in the area and an improved setting of the station and surrounding buildings with the use of high quality materials
  
• The Island Platform Scheme has introduced a new pavilion with waiting area facilities and a second staircase from the footbridge to platforms 4 and 7. This scheme was funded largely by the former North West Regional Development Agency and National Stations Improvement Programme
  
• Repairs, restoration and internal changes were completed by Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales to the West and East pavilion buildings on the Island Platform. The West Pavilion now has a reconfigured train crew facility and additional pod. The East Pavilion has improved passenger toilets and offices for the Train Operating Company (relocated from the main frontage building)
  
• Improvements to shop fronts in Brook Street along with improved street furniture and footpaths helping to encourage the use of the street as a route between the Station and City Centre has been funded through the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI). .

Ongoing and future schemes include:

• Restoration and refurbishment of the historic footbridge linking the station concourse to platforms four to seven, led by Network Rail and with investment from the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI). This scheme now has permissions in place and is expected to be on site in August this year
  
• There remains a recognised need to extend and improve car parking facilities on the West Car Park in the future although there is no current scheme
  
• Re-using the frontage building ground floor space in the East Wing for active commercial use is an ambition