Work on the almost £5million makeover of Stirling station and the area around the station begins on Monday, 18 July 2022.
When completed by spring 2023, the project will provide safe pedestrian and cycle friendly areas that will deliver sustainable transport options and a greener environment.
Funding is being provided by the Scottish Government, delivered through Sustrans, and Stirling Council. Network Rail Scotland and Serco Group have also contributed to the funding. The contractor for the work is Luddon Construction. ScotRail will manage the redevelopment.
The design includes:
- Refurbishment of the station entrance canopy.
- Creating a pedestrianised plaza around the station.
- Improved customer waiting facilities on platforms 2 and 3 and new public toilets.
- The creation of a Cyclepoint with 150 additional cycle parking spaces and a small maintenance area. This will also enhance the e-bike offering on the station forecourt, which is already very popular.
- Pedestrianisation of the current station forecourt, replacing the roundabout on Goosecroft Road with a T-junction and a new car park entrance created from Burghmuir Road.
- Existing bridge top deck waterproofing works in advance of the forecourt works.
- Taxis being relocated out with the station area to the city centre, also managed by Stirling Council.
Customers and locals will benefit from improved safety with the reduction of traffic, including taxis, in front of the station and new cycle routes will provide improved active travel links to the city centre and wider Stirling area, such as the University campus.
The project will build on the City Centre streetscape improvements previously delivered by Stirling Council and encourage pedestrians and cyclists to travel by train, and customers will benefit from better facilities in the station building.
The project is in line with the Scottish Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2045, with opportunities for walking, wheeling, and cycling for both active travel and recreation aligned with travel by public transport.
The project also ties in with Stirling Council’s ‘Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling’ scheme, which aims to achieve an active travel culture that is sustainable and provides better accessibility for all users by walking, cycling, and wheeling.
During the work, the North and South car parks will be closed to the public. There will be space in North for five Blue Badge holders.
David Lister, ScotRail Safety, Engineering & Sustainability Director, said:
“This is an exciting development which will modernise Stirling station with a more people-focused entrance as well as enhancing the area around the station.
“Not only will the completed project foster an active travel culture by encouraging cycling, walking, and wheeling, it will also promote train travel as we maintain our aim of delivering more sustainable transport options.
“The improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will make a positive contribution to meeting the Scottish Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2045.”
Jenny Gilruth MSP, Minister for Transport, said:
“We welcome the start of this latest phase in the Stirling Station redevelopment, marking further Scottish Government investment in Scotland’s Railways.
“This is a great example of how we are working closely with our industry and local partners to significantly enhance passenger facilities at this station, as well as improve the active travel links between the station and the Stirling community.
‘Our aim is to encourage more people from the Stirling area to want to travel by train while also choosing more sustainable ways to get to and from the station whether that is by bus, walking, wheeling or cycling.
“We also want to drive local economic benefits by encouraging more people to visit Stirling by rail to explore the city and the surrounding areas.
“This is all part of our vision for rail services going forward; services which are attractive, efficient, passenger focussed and provide best value for money.”
Michael Melton Grant Manager of Sustrans Scotland, said:
“This will create a more people focused entrance to Stirling station.
“There’ll be extra planting with integrated seating and junction improvements to reduce the number of crossings.
“There’ll also be larger undercover cycle storage facilities. All together it will be a truly transformative project.”
Councillor Jen Preston, Convener of Stirling Council’s Environment and Housing Committee, said:
“The transformation of Stirling Rail Station will make an incredible difference to the public transport gateway into our city.
“People arriving by train will see Stirling in a new light, with access to a range of improved active travel options and routes that connects the station to businesses, leisure and tourism destinations across the city centre and beyond.
“Enhancing the station forecourt will provide an attractive space for visitors, improve accessibility and link to our ‘Walk Cycle Live Stirling’ projects.
“This will enable people to make different transport choices and support our wider climate emergency objectives.”