Two of the county's key railway stations have undergone a major facelift and were officially opened on Friday, March 14.

Rail users at Worcester Foregate Street Station and Malvern Link will have noticed the major improvements which the two stations have undergone, including new entrance canopies, surfacing and internal cladding at Foregate Street and a brand new booking office, waiting facilities with toilets, access ramp and car park remodelling at Malvern Link.

The official opening ceremony in Malvern was attended by Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Harriett Baldwin MP for West Worcestershire and the Mayor of Malvern, with Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Robin Walker MP and the Mayor of Worcester attending Foregate Street.

The makeovers form part of Worcestershire County Council's wider Worcester Transport Strategy which aims to secure improvements in our vital transport infrastructure and support economic growth.

The upgrades are intended to reinforce the Malvern Link Station as a gateway to Malvern and as a commuter hub to key destinations and to further cement the Worcester Foregate Street interchange as one of the principal gateways to Worcester City, welcoming visitors and making the city more attractive to business.

This key rail interchange at the heart of Worcester City Centre currently accommodates well over 1 million rail passengers each year.

Both projects have been developed in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, London Midland and Network Rail and have been carried out by contractors Buckingham Group Contracting Limited (BGCL).

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Simon Geraghty said: "We are delighted that this project gives today's rail users updated facilities while respecting their heritage features.

"Thousands of people living and working in Worcestershire rely on the rail network every day. These new facilities at the stations will deliver an enhanced experience for users at these two key stations.

"I would also like to thank people for their patience during the improvement works at both Foregate Street Station and Malvern Link Station. These projects are part of the Worcester Transport Strategy, which aims to reduce congestion on our roads and to remove barriers to economic growth across the county."

Patrick Verwer, London Midland’s managing director said: “We are committed to improving the journey experience for our passengers and the station environment plays a pivotal role in that.

“The scale of works which have been carried out at Malvern Link and Worcester Foregate Street are extremely impressive and a testament to what can be achieved through effective partnership working”.

More information can be found by visiting www.worcestershire.gov.uk/wts and updates will be sent out from the @worcscc Twitter account (twitter.com/worcscc).