An Historic Day for Irlam Station!
Following years of planning, consultation and extensive restoration work, we are delighted that Irlam Station House has finally opened its doors to the public.
The 26th March 2015, saw almost 200 people, including the local community and partner organisations, join us to celebrate the opening of the redeveloped station by Ian Stewart, City Mayor of Salford and Councillor Christine Hudson, Ceremonial Mayor of Salford, 122 years to the day since it first opened its doors.
Originally built in 1893, Irlam Station House has been transformed, combining original architectural features alongside the introduction of some great new facilities, offering visitors a taste of the present and a flavour of the past. Now sitting proudly on the platform, this Victorian building is a great place to wait for your train in comfort and is the home of the modern café bistro “1923” serving freshly prepared food and drink, alongside new toilet facilities, free wi-fi and meeting space.
The transformation is part of a wider project to regenerate the whole site which had been in a poor state of repair for some time. This includes a new 60 space car park, motorcycle bays, a cycle hub and dedicated pedestrian walking routes, as well as new CCTV and enhanced external lighting with special optics to brighten the car park. And that’s not all! There are further enhancements on their way including the construction of a ramp to the Liverpool-bound platform to provide step-free access, improvements to the subway, extensive landscaping and the introduction of a station garden.
We believe the project is a great example of partnership working, with Salford City Council, NC Developments, Transport for Greater Manchester, Network Rail, Northern Rail, Irlam and Cadishead History Society and the Friends of Irlam Station joining with us to combine ideas and resources to bring the station back to its former glory.
At a cost of over £2m, the Station House, after standing derelict for almost a quarter of a century has a new lease of life! Whatever the reason for visiting, it is now so much more than a station and will provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the local community and the 240,000 rail users who use the station each year. We hope that Irlam Station can now become a bustling hub like it once was in its heyday!
HDT Founder and Chair Neil McArthur said:
“The station house was derelict and in a sorry state of repair. We wanted to help regenerate the district and create a landmark, so much more than a station. I feel we have done this, by not only improving the environment and introducing great new facilities, but by restoring the old station house to its former glory. Irlam Station will hopefully become a must-visit location for residents from neighbouring communities, whether for leisure or their daily commute. I’m delighted to have been part of this partnership to make this regeneration happen and I think it can only benefit Irlam for the future.”
Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart said:
“This is a great example of partnership working. Irlam Station has been totally transformed from an embarrassment to somewhere the whole community can be really proud of. The new free car park and secure cycle hub championed by local councillors will help residents to make sustainable travel choices while the refurbished station house will be an asset to rail users and should become a real hub for the community. Salford City Council is also planning to construct a new ramp to the Liverpool-bound platform later this year which will make the station more accessible and further improve the appearance of the station. A lot of time and effort has gone in to restoring the Victorian building with its original features and all those involved should be extremely proud of the job they have done. What was once an eyesore is now an important focus for the community.”
Irlam resident Margaret Vaudrey has been using the station for over 50 years, first as a school girl, then a commuter and now because it is the most convenient way to travel. Margaret said:
“The station building and its surroundings are a joy to see. After many years of neglect the once solid old building had slowly become derelict, an eyesore with boarded up windows, slates missing from the roof and birds flying in and out of it. It’s been wonderful to watch its transformation back into such a fine-looking station, something for the people of the district to be proud of. I seriously believe it can now be considered one of the best stations in the country.”
Have you visited yet? If not, why not pop in and check out the iconic features incorporated into the Station House, including the distinguished drinking fountain based on the original design from 1872; the former Council Offices clock, newly refurbished and keeping visitors on time, as it has done since 1907; the carriage – a boothed dining area designed to replicate the Irlam Soap Works Special; and a large collection of railway memorabilia!
We would like to say a thank you to: the Irlam and Cadishead History Society and Joan Hill for their contribution to documenting the history of the station and associated industries; Cadishead Band for performing at the event; and Northern Rail for providing complimentary tickets for guests to arrive and depart by train.
Posted on: 27th March 2015