TUESDAY marked a major milestone in the history of Hereford as the city's railway station celebrated 150 years.
It was officially completed for the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway Company and the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Company in February, 1856, and to commemorate the anniversary a plaque was unveiled by Graeme Bunker, managing director of Arriva Trains Wales, and Terry Dowding, chairman of the Worcester Locomotive Society.
A stone, used as a 'boundary marker' by the original Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Company, is being set at the station to commemorate its history.
Tuesday marked another important date for the station as ticket gates went 'live' for the first time. The gates allow customers to pass through the station quickly while ensuring that fare paying customers are not subsidising those who avoid buying a ticket.
The gates - officially opened by Mayor of Hereford Councillor Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes - have also been shown to improve station security and reduce acts of vandalism. The station also has a new rapid self-serve ticket machine that offers chip and pin technology and state-of-the-art security.
A small exhibition of photographs of Hereford through the decades was on display at the station, courtesy of local rail historian Gordon Wood.
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