Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson met with the staff from ScotRail and Balfour Beatty who are redeveloping Motherwell Station and heard first-hand about the project’s progress to date.
Representing a £15.4 million agreement between North Lanarkshire Council, ScotRail, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Transport Scotland the new station is part of work to create a more comfortable and efficient gateway to the Glasgow City Region. It is due to be completed by March 2023.
ScotRail and contractors, Balfour Beatty, started work on the project back in summer 2020 and will deliver various improvements including, an enhanced station forecourt, improved ticket retailing facilities, additional retail options and new facilities for taxis and car drop-offs.
Mr Simpson heard about the six different phases of the project and was pleased to learn that the team intend to move into the final phase in November. This will include completing the landscaping around the station forecourt and installing new ticket gates.
He was also pleased to hear that, although monthly patronage is still half of the pre-pandemic levels at 52,000, it has started to recover since peak Covid19 in late 2020 - rising by more than 20,000.
Staff also highlighted the work being done by North Lanarkshire Council in creating a transport hub outside of the station which is designed to improve bus and active travel links to the station while reducing congestion in the town.
MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson said: "The redevelopment of Motherwell Station is progressing nicely with residents now able to see the full scale of the work being undertaken to create a more modern, fit-for-purpose structure.
“ScotRail and Balfour Beatty are doing some great work and I’m sure those who regularly use the station will delighted with many of the new features included in the design.
“I hope this fantastic project will go some way to encouraging more people to leave the car at home and use public transport when commuting or for leisure trips further afield.
“I look forward to returning when these upgrades have been completed and hearing what Motherwell residents have to say about these vast improvements”.
