Work starts on new £20 million multi-storey car park for Didcot Parkway
£20 million work has begun today to build a new 1,800 capacity multi-storey car park at Didcot Parkway railway station.
The scheme, which is part funded by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, will see the number of car parking spaces at the station increase by over 65% to 1,800.
The work, which to take place in the Foxhall Road car park, is being divided into two phases:
- Phase 1 from April 17 to Summer 17: A temporary deck will be constructed over half of the car park, to be completed this Summer. The east end of the car park will remain open
- Phase 2 from Summer 17 to Summer 18: Construction of a new multi-storey car park will begin and will be completed by next Summer.
GWR Regional Development Manager Tom Pierpoint said:
“Didcot Parkway is used by over three million customers every year, and offers quick and easy journeys to Oxford, Banbury, Reading and London – making it a key hub.
“With London around 40 minutes away by train, a new multi-storey car park, complementing new trains and more seats, will provide a better travelling experience for all those who use the station both now and into the future.”
In addition, Network Rail is constructing a new covered footbridge at the west end of the station. When completed, the footbridge will provide customers with a direct, covered walkway route from Foxhall Road car park to the station.
From October this year new Intercity Express Trains will enter service and provide over a fifth more seats per train, more tables in standard class, efficient air-conditioning, a digital reservation system and well-equipped kitchens, ensuring a more comfortable experience for passengers.
In addition, in early 2018 new Electrostar, suburban trains will start between Paddington and Didcot Parkway. These trains are eight carriages long, benefiting customers who travel between Didcot Parkway and intermediate stations.
GWR continues to investigate alternative parking arrangements to minimise the potential for a loss of parking space while work is being carried out.
Three car parks serve the station: Foxhall Road with 890 spaces, being increased to 1,800; Didcot East with 143 and Didcot West short stay with 43 spaces.
Supported by Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Notes to editors
Great Western Railway (GWR) provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services. We help over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year - across South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England.
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