Local politicians and company directors officially opened Weymouth’s improved railway station last Friday, 21 April. Representatives from organisations which helped shape and fund the improvements also attended.

The multi-agency partnership-led improvement scheme which completed last summer includes:

• a refreshed car parking layout with clearer drop-off, collection and taxi points
• improved bus links, a new bus shelter and bus information
• more secure bicycle storage
• new pedestrian areas and walking routes
• landscaped planting scheme in the station forecourt
• new lighting and CCTV
• new information panels about how the use of the railways in the town have changed over the years, In a nod to Weymouth’s railway history at the adjacent Pocket Park
• a living wall
• completely refurbished canopy on platforms 2 and 3
• new station café.

Improvement works started in November 2021, including better pedestrian access and wayfinding to and from the station and the beach, improved sustainable transport links, and an attractive pocket park that provides an open walkway and cycle path to Jubilee Retail Park and Radipole Lake. The original track in Pocket Park and a trail of information boards and art installations between the station and the harbour, provide illustrations Weymouth’s railway heritage.

The work was carried out in phases to minimise disruption and allow the station to fully operate as normal. The overall cost of the project was £1.2m, with South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail promising to provide figures for their investments including the Department for Transport’s contribution.

Pocket Park aims to reflect the history of the railway and former train lines along Weymouth’s harbour. The space has been made more contemporary and welcoming, and is designed to improve the passenger experience and deter anti-social behaviour.

The full list of partners is: Dorset Council, South West Railways, Network Rail, Weymouth Town Council, Weymouth Area Development Trust, Weymouth BID, First Wessex Buses and Public Health Dorset.

Councillors and officers from Dorset Council, Richard Drax MP, Chris Loder MP and the managing directors for South Western Railway and Network Rail (Wessex) officially opened the station.

Cllr Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment at Dorset Council, said: “Dorset Council invested significantly to enable these improvements to the railway station and its surrounding area. Responses made through the consultation confirmed that people thought the station was in poor condition and a hotspot for antisocial behaviour. This work has transformed the forecourt into a more welcoming and accessible place for visitors, residents and businesses.

“It is vital that we provide modern and attractive public transport infrastructure like this to encourage people to reduce their car use and traffic congestion, improve air quality and help us meet our climate targets.”

Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “It’s great to have worked in collaboration with SWR, Dorset Council, Dorset Coastal Forum and other local stakeholders to promote rail travel to Weymouth.

“We want to give our customers the best experience and these improvements will make sure everyone who visits Weymouth has a fantastic first impression.

“The town has a rich railway heritage and work to replace and renew the station canopies is part of the wider Weymouth Station Gateway Improvement scheme to boost the local economy.”

Claire Mann, managing director for South Western Railway, said: “I’m so pleased to see how the different partners have come together to invest in some major improvements to the station and that SWR has been able to play its part in that through our Customer and Communities Improvement Fund as well as investments in information provision and the living wall. We know how important the quality of the customer experience at our stations is in attracting customers back to the railway, not just for SWR services but Great Western Railway’s route to Yeovil and Bristol too.

“We look forward to working with our partners to promote rail travel to Weymouth; the Community Rail Partnership is on the lookout for volunteers to start a station adoption group.”