Jen Preston, the convener of Stirling Council’s Environment, Transport and Net Zero committee, joined transport minister Fiona Hyslop, Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway and Karen McGregor, Scotland director for Sustrans, at the opening ceremony.

Coming complete with a pedestrianised plaza, the new look station will improve the travelling experience for visitors and locals alike and comes just weeks before Stirling prepares to host key events at the UCI Cycling World Championships in August.

The successful completion of the station redevelopment was made possible through funding provided by the Scottish Government, delivered via Sustrans and Stirling Council. Additional contributions from Network Rail Scotland and Serco Group have also played a vital role in bringing the project to fruition.

Stirling Council has invested almost £500,000 in improvement works on the underpass that runs under the station.

A key feature of the project is the creation of a secure CyclePoint, offering more than 140 additional cycle parking spaces and increasing the total number of cycle spaces at the station to more than 200.

This perfectly aligns with Stirling Council’s ‘Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling’ scheme, which aims to foster an active travel culture, improve accessibility, and achieve sustainable transportation options. By combining active travel and public transport, the project encourages a greener and healthier way of commuting while contributing to a more inclusive and vibrant community.

‘Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling’ is a project targeted to transform the city of Stirling into a more sustainable, vibrant and accessible place for everyone to live, work, and visit. It is one of the cornerstone projects of the £90.2m Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024.

Two key transport corridors are being transformed to make it easier for people to walk and cycle into the city centre and along these there will be created spaces for people to rest, play, connect with nature, or learn more about the city’s rich history.

The transport corridors are from Stirling train station to the University and the city centre to Forth Valley College.

Cllr Preston said: “This transformation makes Stirling an even more appealing destination and people will benefit from greater active travel options and sustainable ways to get to and from the station, whether by bus, walking or wheeling.

“By linking to our ‘Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling’ projects, the station is now more connected than ever before to businesses, as well as leisure, educational and tourism destinations across the city centre and beyond.

“Visually, the station looks stunning and this programme of improvements will deliver a local economic boost by encouraging more people to visit Stirling and surrounding areas as we head into the main tourism season.”

The roundabout on Goosecroft Road has been removed and replaced with a new entrance to the south car park along A9 Burghmuir Road, which has streamlined the parking process, enhanced traffic flow, and created a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

A new state-of-the-art gated entry and exit system with car registration plate recognition has been installed in the south car park, and an additional two blue badge parking bays have been created at the entrance of the north car park, increasing the number of accessible parking bays at the station to ten. Two electric vehicle car parking bays are also available within the north car park.

Customer facilities within the station have received significant improvement as part of the redevelopment. The customer lounge and accessible toilet on Platform 2 has seen a comprehensive refurbishment, including the installation of new floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture to enhance the overall comfort and aesthetics. Similar renovations have taken place in the customer lounge between Platform 3 and 6, ensuring that customers can enjoy comfortable and modern amenities.

Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m delighted to open the £5m redevelopment of Stirling Railway station. This has been a real partnership success in placing walking, wheeling, and cycling at the heart of improvements.

“In doing so, we’re making active travel easier than before and encouraging multi-modal sustainable travel both in Stirling and beyond – benefitting health, wellbeing and protecting the environment.

“This is all part of our record investment in active travel, where the Scottish Government has committed to investing over £320million, or 10 per cent of the transport budget, in walking, wheeling, and cycling by 2024-25.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “The redevelopment of Stirling Railway station marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing a sustainable and accessible transport network.

“This project has delivered safe pedestrian and cycle-friendly areas, and it also helps promote multimodal train travel as we continue with our commitment to delivering better environments for sustainable transport options.

“The refurbished customer lounges and upgraded facilities, including new CyclePoint and more blue badge parking, will greatly enhance the overall experience of customers using the station.

“It’s a truly transformational change for the station and its surrounding area, benefiting both ScotRail customers and locals. The successful completion of the project is a testament to the collaborative efforts of all involved to provide a first-class service while contributing to the Scottish Government’s ambitious emissions reduction goals.”

Karen McGregor, Sustrans Scotland director, said: “Safe and convenient access to train stations is an essential daily need for people living and working all across Scotland.

“Complete with integrated seating, landscaping works, junction improvements and covered cycle storage, the Stirling Station Gateway project provides an attractive, welcoming space for everyone, and one where walking, wheeling, and cycling are placed front and centre.

“We’re excited to see these works now completed and look forward to seeing the positive impact the project has for the people of Stirling and beyond.”