The redeveloped Haymarket bus station in Leicester has been officially opened.
An open day was held between 1100 and 1700hrs on Saturday, May 7, allowing the public to see inside the new building for the first time. The open day saw a range of vintage buses and currenty vehicles from the city’s bus operators on show. The station was then officially opened on Sunday, May 8.
The new station utilises 23 departure bays, almost double the 12 used at the old station. It is to be used by 15 Arriva services, seven Centrebus services and 13 First Bus services, along with the Birstall Park & Ride and Stagecoach service 48. Up to 100 buses per hour will pass through it.
Other facilities include real-time information, a passenger information point and public toilets.
The Leicester Mercury said that the station had required 18 months of demolition then construction and cost £13.5m.
Initial opinion was that the launch day went smoothly, with visitors happy overall with the new revamp.
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “This has been a long and challenging redevelopment, but I think that people will agree that the wait has been worth it.
“The new building, with its inviting concourse, will make a huge difference to the daily journeys of thousands of people who travel in and out of the city centre by bus.
“The new pick-up and drop off arrangements will also help reduce bus congestion along this stretch of Charles Street, helping cut unnecessary delays and improve journey times.
“It is a huge improvement over what was here before, which was frankly little more than a lose collection of rundown shelters. This is a bus station for the 21st century.”
