AN ABANDONED UK railway station could be set to re-open after almost 100 years.
The old hub has not been used since 1930 but a campaign to revive it is underway.
A station that has been closed since 1930 is set for a revamp Credit: Altaf Shah / 500px
A partnership with Great Western Railway is being explored for the Plymouth Metro plans Credit: Alamy
Laira Station shut down almost a century ago but is part of new plans to launch a metro network in .
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has put forward plans for a regular hop-on-hop-off railway system, similar to that of the London Overground.
The derelict Laira Station forms part of the proposal for the project, which would link Ivy Bridge and Bere Alston, with stops at Laira and Plympton, eventually connecting to Travistock.
Mr Pollard’s vision for the transport revival aims to make Plymouth faster and easier, while reducing reliance on driving.
Details of the potential development, which is preparing to involve and Plymouth City Council, were pitched to residents on May 30.
“There is clear enthusiasm for better rail connections in Plymouth and reopening Laira Station would play a vital role in transforming how people travel across our city,” Mr Pollard told the BBC .
“I think it’s about time Plymouth had a proper hop-on, hop-off metro service, served by small trains that stop frequently at small stations.
“Getting around Plymouth by train is really hard and that’s what this changes.”
The Plymouth Metro would come with a new fare zone that would allow passengers to tap in and out using debit card and smart phone contactless payments.
Trains would run every half an hour on the new line.
Meanwhile, Laira would be given an essential refurb, including new tarmac on a 500 meter pathway connecting Mount Gould Park and Brandon Road underpass in the suburb.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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