Slough station Northern Forecourt opening-2

Mayor opens newly-renovated Slough station northern forecourt

Slough mayor Cllr Dilbagh S. Parmar has opened the town station’s newly-renovated northern forecourt.

The project, achieved through the partnership working of Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, includes provision of parking spaces together with accessible parking, as well as a turning area to the east.

In front of the station there is also a shared space area aimed to enhance the pedestrian experience. The works also comprise new planting and landscaping, street lighting, a new retaining wall along Railway Terrace, and revisions to the existing surface water drainage network.

Mayor Cllr Dilbagh S. Parmar said:

“It’s a pleasure to be here to open the renovations of the Northern Forecourt, the space is a fantastic welcome to Slough for all those that commute here, and residents alike.”

Savio DeCruz, associate director place operations, Slough Borough Council, said:

“I would like to thank all of you for attending this launch of the new Station Forecourt and especially the Mayor and Mayoress. Thanks also to GWR and Network Rail for supporting the team in delivering the project, and a special thank you to Vaishali Shah, our principal engineer, for project managing the scheme in difficult circumstances.

“I started developing the scheme designs in 2012 following completion of the Southern Forecourt and so it has been 10 years in its making. The forecourt has been transformed and this could not have been made possible if the Local Enterprise Partnership and Department for Transport had not funded the project. This is a very befitting scheme to celebrate the Elizabeth Line now being in full operation and am sure the area will be well used and welcomed by all who visit Slough.”

Slough MP, Tan Dhesi, said:

“It is great to see the improvements to Slough Station car park and forecourt, enabled by the part-funding of Berkshire LEP. Increasing the number of accessible parking spaces is a fantastic step in ensuring our railways are accessible and useable to all.”

Tom Pierpoint, GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, said:

“GWR is delighted to be working with Slough Borough Council and it is fantastic to see the station forecourt scheme come to fruition. Improving access to stations and making it easy and simple to use rail services supports the switch to sustainable travel.

“We are committed to partnership working and to working towards net-zero carbon emissions. It is great to see that at work here in Slough, particularly given that the new timetable from May 21st will see faster GWR services to London and a frequency increase on the Elizabeth line.”

Contact Information

John Carter

Media and Communications Manager

Great Western Railway

0845 410 4444

John.Carter1@gwr.com

Notes to editors

Grand unveiling, pictured, left to right: 

  • Kelsie Woods – Sponsor – Network Rail
  • Jo Grew – Industry Programme Director for the Thames Valley – Network Rail
  • Vaishali Shah – Principal Engineer – Slough Borough Council
  • Mayoress Mrs Amarjit Parmar
  • Mayor Cllr Dilbagh S. Parmar
  • Tom Pierpoint – Business Development Portfolio Director – GWR
  • Savio DeCruz – Associate Director Place Operations – Slough Borough Council,
  • Gerry Quinn – Scheme Project Interface Manager – Network Rail,
  • Alan Ward – Contractor Manager – Falcon Surfacing Ltd,
  • Marlon Brown – GWR
  • David Strunz – Development Manager – GWR

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us