Ilkeston railway station is due to begin operating Sunday April 2nd 2017, with an official opening in summer 2017.
Two platforms, linked by a footbridge, plus passenger shelters, a 90 space car park, pick up point, customer information point, CCTV and ticket machines will mark the first time in over 50 years that passengers will be able to board trains to Sheffield, Nottingham, Alfreton and Langley Mill.
The station has been designed by Beeston-based civil engineering consultants Aecom.
Two new bus shelters will be built on Coronation Road to support services.
The £10 million development, on the site of the former Ilkeston Junction station which closed in 1967, has been plagued with setbacks including flooding, budgeting and a protected species of newts.
To celebrate my home town of #ilkeston having a station again after 50 years, available from mid April from @ErewashMuseum @Derbyshirecc pic.twitter.com/Z8IzUwjuy7
— Stephen Millership (@smillership) January 23, 2017
Current Erewash MP Maggie Throup confirmed the April open date after receiving an email confirmation from Network Rail.
Ms Throup said: “I am delighted that at long last we finally have a firm date for passenger trains to begin operating to and from Ilkeston’s new station.
“The station will not only transform the way local people travel, but will undoubtedly give a significant boost to the local economy and attract new business to the area.
“Sunday April 2 will be a historic day in the life of our town as we finally cast off the dubious title ‘the largest town in Britain without a station’, and I for one cannot wait to be on that first passenger train as it pulls into Ilkeston Junction after an interval of over 50 years.
“This investment by the Conservative Government demonstrates the commitment we have made to improving Britain’s aging railway infrastructure. However I now want to see even more investment to make sure we connect the station up with the rest of the town to maximise the benefits.”
Back in January, aerial drone footage captured a bird’s-eye view of the developments.
Who Is Paying?
On 24th January 2013 the government announced the New Stations Fund as an opportunity for local authorities and train operating companies keen to boost local growth through the rebuilding of previously closed stations.
The Department of Transport provided up to £20 million with the second round of funding announced in the summer 2015 budget.
Administered through Network Rail, fourteen bids worth a combined £46 million were submitted with the aim of delivering better journeys, boosting local economies and linking communities.
The first round of funding produced five successful bids, sharing £14 million between them.
These were:
- Ilkeston
- Kenilworth
- Lea Bridge
- Newcourt
- Pye Corner
Nine bids were unsuccessful.
The money would contribute up to 75% of the cost of new station projects with remaining funds coming from Derbyshire County Council and Nottingham Housing Market Area.
Ilkeston Station footbridge on Coronation Road
The video below shows the newly built footbridge from the Station Road and Station Street approach to Coronation Road.
Ilkeston Station east car park
This is the view of the main car park from Coronation Road, with Millership Way seen in the background. Galliford Try engineers, partnered with Network Rail, can be seen on site Monday to Friday.
Ilkeston Station platform and footbridge
Here is a view of the east platform with the footbridge in the foreground.
Ilkeston station west car park
This is the view from the Coronation Road footbridge of the west car park, which looks like it could be a taxi rank and pick up point.
Ilkeston station west platform
A passenger shelter and information point can be seen on the west platform from the footbridge.