AN £8m revamp of Didcot Parkway station will bring “great benefits” to Oxfordshire commuters, it was claimed after work finished this week.

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith visited Oxfordshire’s second-busiest station yesterday.

The improvements include more than 100 new parking spaces, improved walkways and greater disabled access.

Investment came from OCC, South Oxfordshire District Council, Network Rail and First Great Western.

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Mr Nimmo Smith said: “I am delighted the station is fully open and that commuters can take advantage of the improvements.

“With the electrification of the Great Western line, improvements to stations like Didcot and the opening of new lines, as we’ll see with the Oxford to Marylebone line next year, the level of investment in train infrastructure will bring great benefits to county commuters.”

The station also features new double-decker bike racks. The bus stops have a digital timetables with live updates and there are more taxi rank spaces.

Oxford Mail:

David Nimmo Smith, left, county council cabinet member for transport, with station manager Kim Higgs 

Work on the project began in April 2012 but was delayed by the discovery of asbestos under the main forecourt.

Didcot Town councillor Margaret Davies said people in Didcot had been “very patient” while the work continued, with traffic going in and out of the site.

She said “When they started work in 2012 the estimated finishing date was September 2013, but with such a major project you can expect some delay.”

In total, the project was completed a year late and £1.3m over budget.

Station manager Kim Higgs said: “We have ended up with a clean, un-cluttered environment, making Didcot a gateway to the future.”


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