West of Grafton Gate: The Station District
This district is defined by Saxon Gate (Saxon Street, V7) to the north-east, the West Coast Main Line (and the adjacent A5) to the south-west, Portway (H5, A509) to the north-west and Childs Way (H6) to the south-east. The core retail district is further delimited by Silbury and Avebury Boulevards, with civic and office developments outside the Boulevards.
The main feature of the district is the Milton Keynes Central railway station (an inter-city stop on the West Coast Main Line), one of the five stations serving Milton Keynes. Coach services operate from here as well as from the Milton Keynes coachway next to junction 14 of the M1 motorway. Services include the Stagecoach X5 service that replaces the Varsity Line, which links Milton Keynes with Oxford in the west (for connections to the west and Wales) and Cambridge in the east; and the VT99 service to Luton Airport, operated by Stagecoach on behalf of Virgin Rail. The station building houses commercial office lets and food outlets, and the Station Square development includes further office lets and retail outlets.
The former central bus station is located opposite the station but has not been operating as such since 1997. The interchange point is located at the railway station forecourt. The upstairs level of the bus station (formerly a night club) accommodates a young peoples facility. There is an award winning covered "urban" skate-boarding area, the Buszy, beside the bus station which attracts international 'skaters' and film crews.
The National Hockey Stadium was formerly located on a site to the north of the station, surrounded by a number of important retail units. Beginning December 2009, the site is being developed as the national 'centre' for Network Rail, due for completion by Autumn 2012. To its south there is another leisure and retail area - the Leisure Plaza, notably the Planet Ice Arena (home of Milton Keynes Lightning) and what was another ten-pin bowling alley. As of 2011, this area is planned for re-development.
Read more about this topic: Central Milton Keynes
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