Government backs £100m revamp of Wolverhampton train station

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has given his backing to a £100 million revamp of Wolverhampton train station.

Wolverhampton City Council and transport authority Centro are £20m short in funding the overhaul and want the government to stump up the cash in a loan.

Mr McLoughlin, who visited the station this week, did not go as far as approving the scheme, but said he was 'very keen' to see it happen.

He said: "Anybody who has used the station regularly over the last 40 years like I have will know how much this project is needed.

"There has already been major improvements with the new footbridge, the new car park and within the station itself. I'm very keen to see the improvements proposed by Centro and the council and the Department for Transport will look at it. There is a huge amount of money being invested in railways by this government."

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Centro and Wolverhampton City Council have previously been given £4.5m government growth funding towards the revamp.

Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, said the £20m loan would be paid back using the fees from car parking, which is set to be doubled to 900 spaces.

Mr McLoughlin met with the leaders of 14 councils from across the Midlands in the city about passing more powers over the railway to councils.

He was also invited to the city by Wolverhampton South West Conservative MP Paul Uppal said: "The whole city is united in wanting this revamp of the city's train station.

"I wanted to invite the Secretary of State to see what is needed and why then people of Wolverhampton want it.

"The railway station is the entrance to the city for many visitors and it is important that it gives an impressive impression to our visitors and residents."

Mr McLoughlin is a former Cannock miner and stood for election in the Wolverhampton South East seat in 1983, losing to Labour's Robert Edwards.

Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East said: "Since my election nearly five years ago, I have been campaigning for a new train station in Wolverhampton. I have written to the Transport Secretary on a number of occasions to press him to act.

"I believe that a new station is vital, not only for regular commuters but also for the wider regeneration of the city centre. It is important that the government honour the commitments it has made to ensure that Wolverhampton gets a new train station."