Virgin to expand Preston railway station parking

Virgin Trains and Network Rail have announced plans to double the number of car parking spaces available for rail passengers at Preston station.

When completed it will provide an additional 469 car parking spaces. The new 939-space car park is expected to be completed in spring 2009.

Work is due to start at the end of May and passengers are advised that there will be a reduction in existing car parking spaces to allow construction of the new car park.

Virgin Trains station manager for Preston, Ron Dixon, said: "We would advise that the station car park is expected to be full by 07:30 each day and would ask customers to consider using alternative car parks or local buses, including the park & ride service, whilst the work takes place.

"We would also urge all customers who travel to Preston station by car to allow extra time for their journey to the station, to ensure that they are still able to catch their intended train."

The work at Preston is part of a joint project between Virgin Trains and Network Rail to improve car parking at all 17 stations on the West Coast route which are managed by Virgin Trains. The other stations involved are: Lancaster, Penrith, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Carlisle, Oxenholme, Runcorn, Crewe, Stockport, Macclesfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham International, Coventry and Rugby.