More than £3 million is being invested to help create an improved transport interchange at Motherwell railway station.

The Glasgow City Region Cabinet has approved £3.5m of City Deal funding to help contribute towards a wider project that will see North Lanarkshire Council work alongside ScotRail Alliance and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to create a vibrant, regional transport hub in Motherwell.

Features of the investment will include;

• An expanded bus facility on Muir Street

• New arrangements for taxis, car drop-offs and disabled parking adjacent to the station

• A reconfigured station forecourt

• Pedestrian and cycle network improvements, and

• Expansion of the park and ride at Farm Street and additional parking at Pollock Street car park.

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ScotRail Alliance has committed funding to upgrade Motherwell Station as part of its franchise commitment to develop large stations in Scotland, with further funding contributed to support the wider project.

Overall, the project aims to make it easier to use public transport and improve links between bus and train services, as well as reducing road congestion. This will provide increased access for local people to jobs, education and training opportunities in Lanarkshire and beyond. The plans include capacity for potential increased bus services to and from Ravenscraig as this site is developed in future.

Cllr Allan Graham said: "This is a major development for Motherwell town centre which will improve access to public transport and job opportunities for local people not only in North Lanarkshire but to the rest of central Scotland.

"It also links to our wider City Deal projects which will see the new roads between Cumbernauld, Airdrie, Ravenscraig and the M74 alongside investment at Eurocentral. All these initiatives will bring new business and jobs to the area, opening up links with the rest of the Scotland the UK and giving a huge boost to the local economy.

"Approval of the Motherwell rail station hub project by the Glasgow City Region Cabinet is a significant step forward for the council and our partners in making our plans a reality."

(LM)