The way vehicles will access City of Wolverhampton Railway Station will change from Sunday, as part of the city's £132 million Interchange improvements.

It coincides with the switch to a new entrance for the extended multi storey car park, which will be operational for the first time on the same day.

From Sunday, motor vehicles will no longer be able to access the station via Railway Drive. Instead, they can access the station, multi storey car park, short stay parking, passenger drop off/pick up area and taxi rank via Corn Hill.

Pedestrians should continue to access the station via the footbridge from Pipers Row, as at present, while National Cycle Route 81 will be maintained along Railway Drive, although cyclists should take care as construction traffic will be operating in the area.

Work on the new car park has increased capacity from 450 to more than 800 long stay parking spaces, and the finishing touches to the car park will be completed in the coming weeks.

The old entrance to the multi storey car park will be permanently removed.

The access changes are the first phase of a new look station, with works due to begin early this year on demolishing the existing station building and replacing it with a new one.

The new station building will benefit from an enhanced Birmingham New Street style ticket office, larger passenger concourse, ample ticket barriers to ease flow onto and off platforms, and much improved retail and café facilities.

The overall Interchange project will eventually also see a Metro line extension running down Railway Drive to a new stop at the station.

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "Big changes are happening at the city's railway station which will improve people's journeys.

"The multi storey car park is on schedule and there is a genuine excitement about work starting on the new state of the art railway station building early this year.

"Meanwhile, I would urge anyone using the station to make themselves familiar with the new access arrangements.

"Ultimately, as well as encouraging more investment and boosting prosperity in the city, the Interchange will become the gateway to the city for people arriving off the national rail network, by bus or Metro."

Steve Parry, Managing Director of Neptune Developments, added: "Each completed phase of works becomes a defining moment in the process of delivering the scheme to the city. The successful completion of the car park allows us the opportunity to begin the build on Wolverhampton's highly anticipated railway station.

"In turn, the completion of the station will free the land for the next phase of commercial development. The design competition for this phase has recently launched in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, and we are delighted that we have already seen interest from world class architects and designers. This is testament to the strength of the scheme."

Dave Whitehouse, Virgin Trains Interchange Project Manager Wolverhampton, said: "The opening of the new extended multi-storey car park is the first of a number of benefits our customers will start to see from this year onwards.

"It is an exciting time and we'll be working closely with all our stakeholders to ensure we get timely information out to our customers to ensure they take full advantage of what will represent a step change in their experience of using the station."

How to access the railway station from 8  January

Travelling from Stafford Road (A449) direction:

Follow Ring Road St Patricks, onto Ring Road St Davids and take slip road/exit onto Corn Hill.

Travelling from Wednesfield Road (A4124) direction:

Follow Ring Road St Davids (A4150) and take slip road/exit onto Corn Hill.

Travelling from Willenhall Road (A454) direction:

Follow A454 into city centre, straight on at the Horseley Fields lights and right onto Corn Hill.

Travelling from Bilston Island direction:

Take the A454 Middle Cross exit, left at the Horseley Fields (A454) lights and right onto Corn Hill.

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  • released: Wednesday 4 January, 2017