A DATE has finally been set for the opening of the new multi-million pound railway station in Bromsgrove.

On Tuesday, July 12, after more than two years of anticipation and delays, Bromsgrove Railway Station will officially open, boasting a range of improved facilities.

The new station will include a staffed ticket office, passenger waiting rooms, toilets and 350 onsite car parking spaces.

An external concourse will link passengers to the car park, along with new bus stops, a taxi rank, pedestrian footpaths and a cycle store. Better facilities and integration with local bus services will also make it easier for passengers to travel between Bromsgrove, Birmingham and Worcester.

Worcestershire County Council says it will also reduce congestion and carbon emissions and make it easier to access the town centre. In turn, it says this will make the area more attractive for business and encourage job creation.

The £24million station will have the capacity to handle 800,000 passengers per year, and the longer platforms could mean additional services will stop at Bromsgrove in the future.

Further railway construction works are scheduled this year, including Network Rail's electrification of the line. Once complete, however, there is set to be four trains per hour between Bromsgrove and Birmingham.

Martin Ball, area director for Network Rail, said: “The new Bromsgrove station will provide a significant boost to passengers and the wider area, providing better facilities and a much-improved first impression of the town."

He added: "This is the first of a series of upgrades through Bromsgrove. A more reliable signalling system is being installed and the line between Bromsgrove and Barnt Green will be electrified which will provide passengers with better, more frequent and reliable services.”

The council ensure there are no changes to train ticket prices or timetables. Car parking costs £3 for one day, £11 for a week, £40 per month or £360 for an annual ticket. Bus routes 42, 43, 145 and 318 now serve the station.