Improvements to Kirkgate station given go ahead

Plans to renew the canopies and remove part of the redundant spine wall at Kirkgate station have today been granted Listed Building consent by Wakefield District Council planning committee.

The plans to ‘transform’ the listed station building have been drawn up by Groundwork Wakefield with support from Network Rail, Northern Rail, West Yorkshire PTE (Metro), Wakefield council and Railway Heritage Trust.

Phil Verster, route managing director at Network Rail, said:

“This is the news we have been waiting for at Kirkgate. Our team is already on site completing preparatory works and will press ahead with the full scheme immediately.

“Our project is in addition to the wider scheme to transform the station building which is being led by Groundwork Wakefield.

“We expect to complete our work in November when the station building scheme is expected to begin.”

Network Rail’s work on the station is worth approximately £1.5m and is being funded by the company with a contribution from the Railway Heritage Trust.