The 184-year-old train station set to launch £17million redevelopment including huge new plaza and gardens
A VICTORIAN train station in the heart of the UK has revealed plans for a huge £17million redevelopment project.
Train journeys in Leicester could improve in the coming years after plans to transform the city’s station were revealed earlier this month.
Leicester City Council unveiled the final plans for its huge multi-million pound revamp of Leicester Train Station.
A new pedestrianised public plaza will be built as part of the renovation, with it set to feature rainwater gardens and new trees being planted.
Meanwhile, the main entrance to the station will be moved to a new location on Station Street.
The new entrance is slated to feature a curved ramp, while steps and a lift will also be incorporated into the design – providing step-free access to the new concourse ticket hall.
There are several parts of the Grade II listed building that will remain, including the station’s facade on Station Street, which will be restored to its former glory, according to the council.
Demolition work is already underway at the station, as space needs to be created for the huge revamp to take place.
The final proposals have also been submitted by the city council and are pending approval.
It is hoped that a main development partner will be appointed by the summer, with construction work to begin shortly after.
The huge redevelopment has been backed by the government’s Levelling up Fund.
Leicester’s mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Leicester’s railway station is a landmark building, but as a vital transport hub, it needs a radical revamp to meet the needs of a modern city the size of Leicester.
“We have been working closely with our rail industry partners and listening carefully to feedback from the public as we progress and develop these ambitious plans that will improve the station and revitalise this important gateway into our city.”
According to Historic England, Leicester train station’s current site was first used by passengers on May 4, 1840, when a steam train arrived from neighbouring Nottingham.
Just one year later, on July 5, 1841, a business man named Thomas Cook arranged a one-day train trip from Leicester Train Station to Loughborough and back, just 11 miles down the road.
The tickets cost a shilling per person, which is around 5p in today’s money, and included a cup of tea and ham sandwiches.
A brass band also accompanied the holidaymakers on their exciting day out, providing them with some entertainment on their short journey.
The train station was completely rebuilt between 1892 and 1894.
And nearly 100 years later, in the 1970s, the interior of the booking hall was reconstructed by British Rail.
Other new train stations
Leicester isn’t the only part of the UK that’s set to benefit from an overhaul of its public transport infrastructure.
Several new train stations are set to open across the West Midlands, including Moseley Village Train Station, which first opened to the public in 1867, but closed down in 1941 as a wartime economy measure.
It will be one of three stations to reopen along the Camp Hill line in Birmingham, with the other two stations being Pineapple Road and Kings Heath.
The new stations will provide regular train services into Birmingham New Street.
Meanwhile, Aldridge station in Walsall, West Midlands, is also set to reopen following a £30million revamp.
While the station closed to passengers in 1965, its tracks have routinely been used by freight services.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast – One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh – Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland’s West Highland Line – While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland’s West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust – and it’s easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes – and I’ve interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it’s certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
Earlier this year, plans were put forward to transform London Waterloo – the third busiest train station in the UK.
The proposals detailed new entrances, increased space on the station’s concourses and new shops and restaurants.
