Regional Interchange railway station to be built at Worcestershire Parkway in UK

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Worcestershire County Council has granted planning permission for the £22m Worcestershire Parkway Regional Interchange railway station in the UK.

Worcestershire Parkway, near junction 7 of the M5 for Worcester city, will connect the Cotswolds and Birmingham to Bristol lines.

Groundwork for the station is expected to start by early next year in order to meet the scheduled opening in late 2017.

"As well as reducing journey times and congestion, the station will improve rail accessibility and connectivity with the rest of the country."

Plans for the station development include provision for construction of a single platform on the Worcester to London line, and two platforms on the Birmingham to Bristol line.

A new station building will be built as a part of the project, to include a booking office, toilets and shop.

The station will also feature 500 car parking spaces, including disabled provision, bus stops, a taxi rank and a passenger drop-off area, and has been designed to be fully accessible for less mobile and disabled visitors.

Worcestershire County Council cabinet member for Highways Councillor John Smith OBE said: "As well as reducing journey times and congestion, the station will improve rail accessibility and connectivity with the rest of the country.

"In turn this will attract inward investment and create new jobs."

Image: Planned design for the new Worcestershire Parkway station. Photo: courtesy of Worcestershire County Council.