Stoke-on-Trent railway station is to have a new look as part of a £29 million grant from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, helping to revolutionise the city’s transport network and how residents get around.
Plans for the funding include a dramatic revamp of the area around Stoke-on-Trent train station, where a brand-new transport hub is to be created that will offer local commuters and visitors to the city better access to taxis, buses and cycling, while also improving walking routes to and from the station.
Further improvements are planned at Longton train station, with the installation of lifts, facilities to support cyclists and new passenger-waiting shelters. The upgrades will improve accessibility to the station, encouraging more people to make use of the station and its links into the city.
Funding from the £29 million grant is also being used to upgrade the city centre bus station, to accommodate these new travel routes.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The Transforming Cities Fund allows cities across the UK to better connect their communities and open up access to jobs, housing and services, and this multi-million-pound investment will make it quicker and easier to get around Stoke-on-Trent, providing a real improvement to the everyday lives of residents.
“This government is committed to levelling up transport infrastructure around the country. Today’s funding announcement demonstrates this commitment, boosting the local economy whilst helping Stoke-on-Trent build back better from COVID-19.”
The Transforming Cities Fund was set up to build on transport links within city regions, promoting local growth and placing cities at the heart of the government’s industrial strategy. Today’s announcement follows the Department for Transport committing £18.5 million earlier this year to the Etruria Valley Link Road. Construction work has now started on this important route, which is designed to reduce congestion into the city centre, boosting the local economy and providing greater access to jobs.
