Work to prepare the ground where a £2.1 million new station will be built near Wolverhampton is expected to begin this week, transport chiefs said today.

Both platforms at Cosford railway station have been demolished and the rebuild is on track to re-open in March.

The multi-million pound project was ordered after the number of passengers using the station soared by more than 10,000 – up to 84,988 a year – in just 12 months.

Network Rail said the 1937-built station could not cope with the rising number of visitors using the stop to get to the nearby RAF Cosford base every year.

The scheme’s project manager Patrick Elson said the work was on schedule for the station to re-open in March – in time for this year’s Cosford air show.

“Everything is proceeding to plan with all of the demolition works now being completed for both platforms,” he said.

“The edge protection scaffolding works, fence protection and access steps has commenced and the piling is due to commence this week.”

Lighting and fences at the station will all be replaced, with new access stairs to be installed.

The station, which is on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line, closed at the end of October and will remain closed throughout the rebuild. Trains still go through the station but do not stop there.

Buses have been put on to take passengers to nearby Albrighton railway station.

The station’s old wooden platforms, made from sleepers that date back 100 years, will be replaced with new platforms, which will have a non-slip surface and include tactile paving to denote the platform edge.

Each platform will have a new steel and glass waiting shelter and lighting columns, and new electronic customer information screens and station announcement system will be reinstated.

There will also be new steel staircases giving access to the platforms.