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Transport Minister Andrew Jones officially re-opened Wakefield Kirkgate station today, Monday 14 September 2015, following a major 拢5.6 million restoration project.

The transformed station, backed by nearly 拢1.5 million of funding from the Department for Transport, will mean better journeys for passengers, with a new ticket office, caf茅, waiting areas, and retail outlets. The project will also help to kickstart the regeneration of the wider area, as well as securing long-term economic growth.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said:

The transformation of Wakefield Kirkgate will unlock huge benefits for passengers, the local economy, and the wider regeneration of the Kirkgate area.

Investing in schemes like this has a vital role to play in creating a Northern Powerhouse, and follows our earlier 拢6 million investment in the new station at Wakefield Westgate 鈥� giving this city 2 excellent gateways.

In addition to the improvements for passengers, new state-of-the-art office space and meeting rooms have been created, which will be made available to the community and local businesses.

More than half a million passengers use the station every year. The Grade II listed station first opened in 1840 and has been returned to its former glory in a project delivered by Groundwork Wakefield, the environmental charity, and Network Rail.

In addition to the funding from the Department for Transport, the project has benefited from 拢750,000 from the government鈥檚 Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund Programme. Other partners included West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Wakefield Council, The Railway Heritage Trust and train operators.

The government is investing 拢13 billion in transport infrastructure to build a Northern Powerhouse that will allow the north of England to realise its potential, and create a balanced, healthier economy. In August a blueprint for the 拢13 billion of spending was published by the Department for Transport.