BULLDOZERS are set to move in to demolish the old Kidderminster Railway Station building this week - half a century after it was built.

Demolition of the current building will make way for a new glass-fronted station double the size.

Councillor Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: "The demolition of the old station building marks another key milestone for the scheme.

"There will be lots of activity over the coming months with visible progress on site.

"Following the installation of the temporary ticket office and changes to the forecourt arrangements, the station building will be demolished over the course of a few weeks to make way for the much improved station building which will support the predicted increase in passenger numbers over the coming years.”

The small brick building was built in 1968, replacing a mock Tudor building that had survived for nearly 100 years before dry rot saw its demise.

Kidderminster Station first opened in 1852 as part of the extension of the Evesham to Stourbridge section of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway.

The line was engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and was later absorbed into the Great Western Railway in 1863.

The station now welcomes nearly two million passengers each year.

Councillor Fran Oborski, deputy leader of Wyre Forest District Council, said: "The redevelopment of the railway station is a key element of our ReWyre transformation programme for Kidderminster.

"The transport theme is all about creating a highly accessible town and enhancing transport connections to the wider region.

“It is great to see this vision becoming a reality. The demolition of the existing station brings us another step closer to creating an attractive station which will meet the needs of residents, visitors and workers.”

Most of the funding for the new station has come from the Local Growth Fund via Worcestershire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnerships. A contribution has also been made by Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council.

Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We’re excited to see the progress that is being made towards the construction of a modern new train station for Kidderminster.

"It was important the we invested in this modernisation, as we know that the station is used frequently by so many businesses inside and outside of the county.

"We know that the brand new glass-front building will look fantastic and provide a much better customer experience once it’s complete.”

Chris Loughran, deputy chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “We are delighted to see plans for the transformation of Kidderminster Railway Station truly underway.

“Part funded by the Local Growth Fund, this is an excellent example of how the fund works for the benefit of the local community and regional economy.

“The redevelopment of the Station upgrade will improve connectivity, accessibility and capacity – all key priorities for the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

“We look forward to working with our partners to deliver what will be a major and important infrastructure project to the region.”

Once the construction works and handover period are complete, the station will be managed by West Midlands Trains, as with the old building and the temporary ticket office.

Richard Brooks, customer experience director for West Midlands Railway, said: “The demolition of the existing station building marks an exciting stage in this project, which will improve the travelling experience for passengers, create a more welcoming gateway to the Severn Valley Railway as well as boosting the local economy.

“West Midlands Railway recently introduced new early morning and evening services to and from Kidderminster and with new trains on the way as part of our major £1 billion network investment programme, these are exciting times for our passengers.”