Doncaster rail station steams towards opening of new platform

Doncaster's proud rail history is on track for another landmark moment as it steams towards the opening of a new platform, following a multi-million pound cash injection.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Dec 2016, 17:19 BST
Updated 14th Dec 2016, 12:36 BST
From Monday rail passengers in Doncaster will be able to use platform zero, located at the end of the train station near to the Frenchgate shopping centre.From Monday rail passengers in Doncaster will be able to use platform zero, located at the end of the train station near to the Frenchgate shopping centre.
From Monday rail passengers in Doncaster will be able to use platform zero, located at the end of the train station near to the Frenchgate shopping centre.

From Monday rail passengers in Doncaster will be able to use platform zero, located at the end of the train station near to the Frenchgate shopping centre.

The new platform has been installed in a bid to help provide better, more reliable train services for passengers by taking away bottlenecks within the station.

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Paul Rutter, area director at Network Rail said of the plans: “Doncaster is an extremely busy interchange not just for passenger trains but also for freight trains.”

He added: “This investment at the station to create platform zero will help us to make services more reliable and is part of a wider programme of investment which will allow more trains to run in the future.

“The platform will be open for business on Monday.”

The installation of the platform is part of a £21 million Network Rail project to improve and expand Doncaster train station. A bridge to connect the new platform with the rest of the station was lifted into place in April, before the rest of the work to complete the platform was carried out.

The borough’s proud rail heritage has been one of its biggest assets since the industrial revolution.

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Since the Doncaster Locomotive and Carriage Building Works, commonly known as ‘The Plant’ were established in 1853, Doncaster has been known nationally for its rail links and manufacturing, including the production of famous locomotives such as the Flying Scotsman and Mallard, which still holds the record for being the world’s fastest steam locomotive.

Today, the town is home to household names in the rail industry such DB Schenker, Volker Rail and Hitachi with 10,000 people currently employed in the sector, and more than £1.7 billion of contracts is booked in with firms over the next three years.

In addition, multi-million pound plans to revamp Doncaster town centre will include the transformation of the railway station into the gateway for the centre.

Initial plans show that the car park will be renovated into an open and welcoming area.

It is hoped that this, combined with the successful bid for the new high speed rail college, which will train thousands of new rail engineers, will boost the rail industry in Doncaster.