News Archive...

Important information - December 2010

We apologise for any inconvenience caused as work to redevelop Rotherham Central Railway Station continues. The station will remain open throughout all redevelopment works. Works on site have been delayed for a variety of reasons and the project is now expected to be completed in the summer of 2011. In an attempt to recover some lost time the contractor is working both day and night shifts.

The temporary station has been established for a number of months now and is operating well. Additional shelters will be installed on both platforms to provide some shelter for passengers over the winter months.

Passengers who wish to travel on trains to and from Platform 2 (trains travelling towards Doncaster / Leeds) should be aware that Platform 2 will only be accessible via the temporary footbridge with steps, and will not be accessible for wheelchair users or those who have restricted mobility.

If you are unable to cross the temporary footbridge, alternative travel arrangements are available:

• Bus service X78 operates up to every 10 minutes between Rotherham and Meadowhall Railway Station. The bus stop for the X78 is located outside Rotherham Central Railway Station.

• Bus services 221 and 218 operate between Rotherham Interchange and Swinton Railway Station.

Full travel details are available from Traveline on 01709 515151.

For passengers with a disability that require assistance in their journey, Northern Rail can provide alternative travel to a nearby accessible station. Please call 08081 561606 (Mondays – Saturdays and public holidays 8am – 8pm, Sundays 9am – 5pm), or email assistance@northernrail.org at least 24 hours before you wish to travel.

Station staff are also available on the train and at a number of stations, and will be able to assist as required. Further information is available on the Northern website: www.northernrail.org/travel/stations.

Important information regarding Rotherham Central Railway Station - July 2010

In February 2010 exciting work to redevelop Rotherham Central Railway Station got underway. We have now reached a critical stage in the redevelopment.

On Thursday 8 July 2010 the existing station building will close. This will allow contractors to safely continue with works, which will include the demolition of the existing station and the construction of the state-of-the-art new station.

While these works continue passengers can access the temporary station via Central Road. The temporary facilities include a ticket office, toilets and a footbridge for accessing Platform 2.

How might this affect you?

Passengers who wish to travel on trains to and from Platform 2 (trains travelling towards Doncaster / Leeds) should be aware that Platform 2 will only be accessible via the temporary footbridge with steps, and will not be accessible for wheelchair users or those who have restricted mobility.

Passengers who are unable to cross the footbridge can travel to or from Swinton or Meadowhall railway stations as temporary alternatives. Bus service X78 operates between Rotherham and Meadowhall up to every 10 minutes and services 221 and 218 operate approximately every 15 minutes between Rotherham and Swinton. Full travel details are available from Traveline on 01709 515151.

For passengers with a disability that need to arrange travel assistance, please contact Northern Rail Customer Relations on 08081 56 16 06, or email assistance@northernrail.org, at least 24 hours before you wish to travel. Northern Rail can offer advice on alternative accessible stations and, where necessary, Northern Rail will provide an accessible form of road transport between Rotherham Central Railway Station and either Swinton or Meadowhall station.

Station staff are also available on the train and at a number of stations, and will be able to assist as required. Further information is available on the Northern website: www.northernrail.org/travel/stations.

Temporary station delay – current station to continue operating as normal

Rotherham Station and access to Platforms 1 and 2 will continue to operate as normal until the temporary station is completed. Delays mean that the temporary station will now open at a later date.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

A welcoming gateway to Rotherham

On 22 February 2010 work began on site for the redevelopment of Rotherham Central Railway Station in South Yorkshire – a key project to join the list for Rotherham’s £2 billion Renaissance.

Once developed the new £8.5million station will provide passengers with significantly improved facilities including a new ticket office, passenger lounge and a retail kiosk. Passengers will also benefit from new lifts providing better access to the platforms and trains for everyone, including people with disabilities, reduced mobility and those with heavy luggage or small children.

David Young, Director of Customer Experience at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive said, "Passengers deserve state of the art facilities and the new station at Rotherham will provide a fully accessible, safe and secure environment for people to start and finish their journeys. SYPTE has worked hard recently on better connecting the town centre through public transport and the launch of the Freebee last year, ensures people can get around the town easily for free. With the redevelopment of the station we are improving another means of public transport within a development which will serve as a valuable function, making Rotherham better connected."

Sharing the exciting vision for the future of Rotherham the project has attracted investment from Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The European Union is part of Europe’s support for the regions economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme. Malcolm Taylor of Yorkshire Forward who manages the investment of ERDF said "European support is essential, especially in the current economic climate for projects like this to go ahead. Yorkshire Forward and Europe are pleased to be involved, working in partnership to regenerate the town for Rotherham and local people and provide rail passengers with this superb facility on completion." Other partners include South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Northern Rail.

The borough council is also leading on a project to improve the public space around the station to better visually connect it to the town centre and canal. This will include a new terraced area and viewing platform overlooking the canal and a new footpath towards the Guest and Chrimes site improving linkages to the new civic building and proposed football stadium.

Councillor Gerald Smith, the councils Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and member of the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority said, "Almost half a million people a year use the station so this project is a real boost for Rotherham town centre. The new improved gateway will complement a range of projects started, or soon to start, as part of the Renaissance programme. The innovative design for the station has the potential to be a landmark, a symbol of the Renaissance ambitions as well as a means of attracting more jobs to the centre and providing Rotherham people with a public transport facility they can be proud of."

When the redevelopment is complete, early in 2011, the current facility will have been replaced by a state of the art railway station to join other redeveloped stations in South Yorkshire. On a recent visit to the area by the Rt Hon Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, Barnsley, Sheffield and Doncaster were categorised as world class facilities and Rotherham will make the fourth in South Yorkshire.

Rail services will not be disrupted at the station during the construction. Work starts on site to construct a temporary facility which passengers will be able to use from mid March when the main station closes. Access to platform 2 will be across a temporary footbridge with steps and therefore people in wheelchairs and with reduced mobility will not be able to travel to and from the station. Alternative stations are available for people to use and full details of alternative travel to these stations on public transport is available from Traveline on 01709 515151.

Northern Rail will offer assistance to passengers through their Customer Relations Team on 08081 56 16 06, should they require transport to the alternative stations.

SYPTE is working with Rotherham Borough Council to mark this historic redevelopment in the town and will be engaging with local people in the coming weeks and months to populate a time capsule which will be buried under the new station towards the end of the redevelopment.

Temporary station to be constructed

Work to construct a temporary station will begin on 22 February 2010. During this time the station will operate as normal with access to Platforms 1 and 2 down the ramps from the main entrance.

Once the temporary station is complete, the entrance will be at the bottom of Central Road. Passengers should be aware that Platform 2 will then only be accessible via a footbridge with steps, and will not be accessible for wheelchair users or those unable to use steps. The current station is expected to be replaced by the temporary station on Saturday 20 March 2010.

Once this change is made, passengers should be aware that Platform 2 will not be accessible for passengers using wheelchairs or those unable to use steps.

Passengers who wish to travel from or to Platform 2 but are unable to cross the footbridge should contact Northern Rail Customer Relations for assistance on 08081 561606 (8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm Sundays) at least 24 hours before they wish to travel.

Station car park

To facilitate the construction of the temporary station on Central Road, and to allow construction works to be undertaken safely, the current 30 space station car park will be closed during the redevelopment. Alternative parking will be signposted and available opposite the station at George Street or in the multi-storey car park over Rotherham Interchange.