FRENCHGATE INTERCHANGE TAKES THE NEXT STEP (Read 458 times)

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FRENCHGATE INTERCHANGE TAKES THE NEXT STEP


28 April 2006

One of the north of England's pioneering public transport projects - Doncaster's Frenchgate - will open on Thursday 8 June, it has been announced today.

A £200m PFI project, Frenchgate is the only one of its kind in the country to combine integrated public transport and retail under one roof in the heart of a town centre. 8 June will see the first phase of the scheme opened to bus users, shoppers and visitors to Doncaster, which is currently undergoing a major renaissance.

Scarborough Development Group, the developer behind the pathfinder scheme, has worked in partnership with the Transport Executive and Doncaster Council as key sponsors in the project.

The Interchange will become fully operational by the end of the summer following the completion of further passenger improvement works at Doncaster railway station. Offering safe, secure, and climate controlled access from the new bus interchange through the extended Frenchgate centre, the scheme will be a milestone gateway into the town, and beyond.

"Integrating the public transport facilities in Doncaster is long overdue and, when combined with the completion of the railway station improvements later this summer, the new interchange will enhance the public transport access into the town centre and the borough," explains David Brown, Passenger Services Director at the Transport Executive.

"Serving as the gateway into Doncaster, Frenchgate will underline how the borough is changing and equipping itself as an emerging force in the north of England," he added.

Linking Doncaster to the national transport network acts as a catalyst for future investment and will have a major, positive impact on the business and trading future of the town.

The Romans favoured Danum for its strategic links and now today's Doncaster sits in the enviable position on top of a motorway box, flanked by the East Coast mainline and, most recently, the UK's newest international airport.

This strategic prominence will be significantly boosted with the opening of the Interchange, directly linking rail and bus with a high quality, top 20 UK shopping centre.

Benefits for all transport users include:

* much improved disabled access to the railway station;
* safe, secure and weather protected access into the town centre;
* one new bus interchange to be used at a central location;
* a state of the art hub for all bus services;
* 500 long stay car parking spaces dedicated for rail users;
* one location for all bus services to Robin Hood Airport; and
* a modern transport interchange between car, rail and bus.

By being part of the town centre, rather than competing with it, Frenchgate will be a signpost to what else Doncaster has to offer as well as being an exciting destination itself.

Further information about Frenchgate is available from the Frenchgate information line on 0845 300 4430 or from the website at www.stepintofrenchgate.com

Doncaster Council and the Transport Executive are partners in the Frenchgate project

[donnytom]

They used to say that it was completely unique- that nowhere else combined shopping and public transport. At last they've realised that things like Meadowhall have done that for a while and have added "in the town centre".

Good idea, shame the building is extremely ugly on the outside and dull on the inside. Has anyone counted how many times the word "Debenhams" is in huge letters all over the thing, even the old parts that will actually be the equivalent of a few streets away from Debenhams itself? I know they're the key big shop in the scheme (although I don't reckon much to them myself) but it's getting silly!

Will the interchange have departure boards like they have in the other interchanges (and the old North Bus Station, I think)?

[Tom B]

IIRC "all bus services" were to go there a few years after opening... since there was to be a delay whilst the whole thing was done? No doubt First will get first pick of bus stops.

[donnytom]

'First' pick, ha! It will be very interesting to see how the whole thing works (or doesn't?). The photos released so far only show a single row of buses, although that might be a good thing as there won't be a delay by people crossing. Hopefully it'll have an adequate area for out-of-service buses otherwise there will be some stands blocked for hours.

[Tom B]

I wonder how long until those fancy doors break down and aren't replaced...

[donnytom]

Just after the press release on the opening day?

One of the oddest developments near that scheme is a little piece of road near the North Bridge around 12ft long coloured with red tarmac and is marked no entry at each end. It looks at an awkward angle for things like emergency vehicles and isn't marked with cycle symbols, so it's a mystery...

[humberside]

Im looking forward to the new interchange and Frenchgate as a whiole. Should vastly improve Doncaster as it's economy grows, based around its excellent transport links

[donnytom]

Yes, I wish it every success, but why is it such an ugly thing?

I'm all for modern design where appropriate and some bits are all right, but they seem to have tried about 10 different styles, the worst being that stainless steel panelling which from a distance looks battered and vandalised.

No doubt, the shopping centre part will be a success. So will the direct indoor link to the railway station. However, whether it will actually work as a bus station is uncertain. Was the bus station element just there to sway the planning permission for the shopping centre?

The first couple of months will be amusing as they try to rework the timetables to cope with the new routing...