Bedford's Brand New Bus Station To Open Later This Month
After decades of waiting, Bedford is just weeks away from a brand new bus station, following confirmation of the opening date as 29th March 2015.
Residents have been able to keep up to date with progress of this momentous project for the town throughout via the 24 hour bus station webcam, which currently shows the activity taking place on the final development phase, as this still image from the live camera reveals.
Alongside work on the bus station itself a number of changes have been made on the forecourt area while the building is completed.
The Bus Station area has already seen significant improvements under the comprehensive regeneration project launched by Mayor Dave Hodgson including:
- The dramatic transformation of the Allhallows Multi-Storey Car Park
- New Greyfriars surface car park constructed and opened
- Environmental Improvements including new paving, seating and tree planting
- Enhanced shop fronts and better disabled access
- New public toilets
Mayor Dave Hodgson said "For many years, the old bus station was frankly an embarrassment for Bedford, and the need for a new one has been obvious to local residents and visitors for decades. Now it is becoming a reality.'
"The new bus station is the central feature of an extensive programme of regeneration work, and represents a major improvement for the town centre and for bus users. It will provide modern, comfortable facilities, with clear and up-to-date information on services. The forthcoming opening is great news for bus users and great news for Bedford Town Centre."
Andy Campbell of Stagecoach added: "The new bus station will improve transport for the people of Bedford and will be a much more pleasant environment for waiting for a bus; although they won't be waiting long! We are delighted that Bedford Borough Council has taken steps to improve what was a bit of an eyesore in the town."
More improvements are also planned with further work on the shops surrounding 14-28 Allhallows and a new departure hub, a new waiting area at the front of the new Bus Station facing onto the roundabout, providing a safe and dry location for passengers departing the bus station from here. Like the bus station itself the departure hub will include screens showing the latest bus information and times.
The opening of the new Bus Station follows with the publication of government figures which reveal that half a million more bus journeys originated in Bedford Borough between 2013 and 2014. Figures provided by the Department for Transport recorded that 6.7 million bus journeys originated from Bedford Borough in 2014; an increase from 6.2million in the previous year.
The new bus station will also be home to the Council's new travel and tourism centre providing advice and information as well as tickets for rail and coach services.
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