by Dan Bloom

This is the first glimpse of the multi-million pound new station for Rochester.

Rail bosses unveiled the artist’s impression today as part of their £26m plan to move the current station – just 500 metres up the line.

We showed the lavish plans to shopkeepers in the high street, who gave a mixed reaction.

Candy Bar manager Angela Wyborne said: “It does look quite trendy but £26m? They’ve only just done up the old station.”

Network Rail say the 121-year-old Victorian station in Rochester High Street is out of date and cannot take full-length trains.

The station will include a drop-off point after the removal of one at Gillingham station prompted anger.

There will be an “integrated transport hub” to connect to buses and a £1.8m foot subway to the proposed Rochester Riverside housing development.

However, visitors to Rochester’s High Street are expected to have to cross the busy A2 at a pedestrian crossing.

Due to open by Christmas 2015, the plans are supported by Medway Council, which leased the building site to Network Rail in exchange for the train firm building the subway and part of a new council car park on Rochester Riverside.

Network Rail route managing director Fiona Taylor said: “The development will kick-start the wider regeneration of the Riverside.”

The Corporation Street car park will lose 103 spaces, but the new Riverside lot will have 134.

The station car park will also have 121 spaces.

Slinders Florist employee Jim Pattenden, 52, said: “It’s rubbish. Tourists won’t all know to go round the back to the other car park.

“It looks nice, it looks modern, but it looks a bit too modern to fit in with historic Rochester.”

But Simply Italian manager Giuseppe D’Angelo, 47, said: “It looks nice. When I heard it was a big surprise but it’s a fantastic idea.”

The plans go on display at the current station this week.

Bosses will be there from 7am to 10.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.