HALF-a-million pounds is to be pumped into improving facilities at Worcester Foregate Street railway station.

The £500,000 cash boost is coming from Worcestershire County Council, which has been awarded £14.2 million from the Department of Transport to help implement the first phase of its Worcester Transport Strategy (WTS).

Similar plans to spend £500,000 improving Malvern Link station have also been announced.

The first details of the scheme for Foregate Street, which includes improvements to the main and secondary entrances, including a new canopy and automatic doors, were revealed yesterday.

Other improvements proposed include improvements to the travel centre, upgrades to information and timetable screens, more secure cycle parking and a makeover of the station subway.

People living in Worcester have a chance to find out more about the scheme during an unmanned public exhibition at the station, starting on Monday.

A further staffed exhibition will be happening in Angel Place on Wednesday, June 20, when council officers will be on hand from 11am to 3pm to answer questions.

This is likely to be the first of several phases of investment for the station and Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “The overall aim of the WTS phase one is to cut congestion and open up economic barriers.

“Hopefully, this will just be the beginning when it comes to making this gateway more attractive for present travellers and for potential future users.”

A planning application for the work will follow the exhibition and the county council needs to have all permissions in place by October 31 to meet the Department of Transport’s criteria for the funding.

It is planned the work will be carried out in 2013.

Malvern Link station will also get a £500,000 revamp.