Fresh delays to Worcestershire Parkway opening

The opening of a new station at Worcestershire Parkway is reportedly nine months behind schedule, and it will now not open until the winter of 2018-19.

It means the £22 million project is now running 18 months behind the original target completion date, following two previous delays.

According to the Evesham Journal, Worcestershire County Council has taken longer than expected to appoint a contractor, and so clearance work has only just begun at the 14-acre station site in Norton. Construction is expected to begin in September or October.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Ken Pollock said: “A huge amount of work has been progressed on Parkway in advance of letting a design and build contract. I’m delighted work has now started on the full design of the scheme and preparations on-site.”

The station has been part funded with £8.3m from central government. The balance is being paid by the county council, which will recoup its investment from train operators and from fees to use the 500-space car park.

It will be operated by Great Western Railway and provide access to both the North Cotswold Line between Worcester-Oxford-Paddington and the Birmingham-Bristol Line.