VALE MPs Harriett Baldwin and Nigel Huddleston have hailed a new chapter in rail travel with the opening of the new parkway station at Norton this weekend.
Sunday’s (February 23) opening of the delayed station was endorsed by Mrs Baldwin who has campaigned for nearly a decade for the new Worcestershire Parkway station.
The MP visited the site to see the new construction which is built at the intersection of the Cotswold Line to and from London and the cross-country trains to Cheltenham, Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham.
The station boasts a 500 space car park with 25 electric car charging points, plenty of space for bikes and a two tier energy efficient building. Mrs Baldwin was given a tour of the station and spoke to new station manager Tim King and Marrick Murphy, who led the construction project.
“It is great to celebrate the arrival of this new station which will be a huge bonus for commuters trying to get around the country by train,” she said.
“It’s a natural intersection of two very busy and popular lines and I’m sure we’ll see more services added as the station usage beds in.
“I’m also hoping that the station will lead to a tourism boost and the opening is being backed by extensive marketing campaigns to encourage more people to come to the county.
“This opening is a huge milestone for Worcestershire and marks the end of a long-running but eventually successful campaign. I know local people will join me in thanking all the people who have helped this project come to fruition,” she added.
Mr Huddleston hailed the opportunity for Vale commuters to have direct access to the CrossCountry line between Cardiff and Nottingham for the first time.
“The new station will not only open up Worcestershire for different travel routes, but will also provide quicker and more frequent services for local commuters with improved access and journey times to Oxford and London,” he said.
“I am delighted we now have an official date for the opening of Worcestershire Parkway station. I know that better railway services will be of huge benefit to the economy and local commuters – myself included. I have visited Worcestershire Parkway Station several times over the last five years and have closely monitored its progress.
“This is a noteworthy event in the area and I know that with better transport links, we can open up Worcestershire to more investment, easier commuting and better access to the surrounding areas. I would like to thank everybody involved in making this significant infrastructure investment happen.”
