Network Rail to takeover Newcastle and York stations in 2015

[swt_passenger]

Widely predicted I think, ever since the 2009 Chris Green stations report, but now being reported. Seem to be emphasising that like at Bristol and Reading the lead TOC will still do all the passenger facing stuff:

Newcastle and York are to become Network Rail-managed stations from the start of the new East Coast franchise in 2015.
The main line stations will join Reading and Bristol Temple Meads, which Network Rail took over on April 1, under a new management model designed to improve long-term planning for the UK’s railway stations.
Network Rail will assume control of asset management and commercial activities for both stations from the start of the new franchise, leaving the new operator to focus on passenger-facing services.
The idea is that the ‘managed station – lite’ model, as it has been dubbed, will make it easier to develop long-term strategies. Network Rail will be solely in charge of maintenance and renewal works around the stations.
Like Reading and Bristol, Newcastle has received substantial investment for modernisation works and York presents further opportunities for commercial development.

http://www.railstaff.co.uk/2014/05/30/network-manages-stations/

 

[gerryuk]

Why not Sheffield? Isn’t that a busier station than York and Newcastle?
Will this make Sheffield the busiest non managed station on the network?

 

[Manchester77]

No Stratford is the busiest not network rail station being managed by TfL and greater Anglia

 

[petersi]

Why not Sheffield? Isn’t that a busier station than York and Newcastle?
Will this make Sheffield the busiest non managed station on the network?

Is Stratford not busier and managed by the toc

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[markydh]

That explains the presently locked open turnstyle gates that have appeared in the extrance to the new toilets on platform 12 in Newcastle, then.

 

[Stats]

Widely predicted I think, ever since the 2009 Chris Green stations report, but now being reported. Seem to be emphasising that like at Bristol and Reading the lead TOC will still do all the passenger facing stuff:

It was announced in the ITT. What's interesting is this article says from the start of the new franchise which is slightly earlier than previously announced. The ITT says the transfer is during the franchise, and the draft franchise agreement is more specific that transfer would take place on expiry of the current leases for the stations on 30 June 2015.

 

[nottinghamcity]

That explains the presently locked open turnstyle gates that have appeared in the extrance to the new toilets on platform 12 in Newcastle, then.

This must be the single most common complaint associated with NR managed stations. I'm surprised that they are taking the PR hit (and since by definition, being the busiest stations, the whole industry)
for the relatively small revenue it must raise.

 

[route:oxford]

This must be the single most common complaint associated with NR managed stations. I'm surprised that they are taking the PR hit (and since by definition, being the busiest stations, the whole industry)
for the relatively small revenue it must raise.

I honestly don't mind paying a token fee to use *clean and sanitary* sanitation facilities.

It's more important that the facility is there than the cost to use them.

 

[northwichcat]

I remember when the Man Piccadilly charge went up to 30p. Virgin told their passengers to avoid using them as all their trains have toilet facilities.

 

[telstarbox]

Is ducking under the barriers to use the facilities a bylaw offence?
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Why not Sheffield? Isn’t that a busier station than York and Newcastle?
Will this make Sheffield the busiest non managed station on the network?

Highbury & Islington is busier than Sheffield

 

[Kite159]

This must be the single most common complaint associated with NR managed stations. I'm surprised that they are taking the PR hit (and since by definition, being the busiest stations, the whole industry)
for the relatively small revenue it must raise.

Bristol Temple has the perfect space in front of the toilets in the subway to fit barriers, although those toilets could do with being made more modern, by ditching the automatic hand washers

Not sure if the platforms have toilets on themselves. I don't mind stations which charge providing the trains have working toilets on

 

[ash39]

Can we look forward to toilet and ticket barriers at York anytime soon then?

 

[causton]

I would rather pay 30p for the toilets in Kings Cross than go across the road to St Pancras and use the free ones... the ones in St Pancras are a disgrace at times, even with 2 cleaners in there I saw once they couldn't keep up with the mess!

 

[higthomas]

Anyone know why Network Rail don't manage Marylebone and Blackfriers?
I thought it might be something to do with only managing long-distance stations that are liable to have large numbers of people hanging around, but this theory is stumped by the fact they manage Cannon Street.

 

[mirodo]

I would rather pay 30p for the toilets in Kings Cross than go across the road to St Pancras and use the free ones... the ones in St Pancras are a disgrace at times, even with 2 cleaners in there I saw once they couldn't keep up with the mess!

I would rather use the free Thomas Crapper crappers in the Parcel Yard in Kings Cross...

 

[northwichcat]

Can we look forward to toilet and ticket barriers at York anytime soon then?

Peter Wilkinson, who was appointed franchising director at DfT following the WC franchise fiasco, once stated he believes ticket barriers are false economy and providing rail staff to check tickets provides better value for money.

 

[BantamMenace]

Peter Wilkinson, who was appointed franchising director at DfT following the WC franchise fiasco, once stated he believes ticket barriers are false economy and providing rail staff to check tickets provides better value for money.

As a single item maybe they are but when coupled with opening ticket offices at more stations, implementing more DOO and moving onboard staff to these new station ticket offices they are value for money?

 

[gerryuk]

Is ducking under the barriers to use the facilities a bylaw offence?
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Highbury & Islington is busier than Sheffield

Isn’t Highbury and Islington a tube managed station? Years ago I went through the station a lot and I am sure the staff were in underground uniform.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Wouldn't Clapham Junc be busier than Sheffield. IIRC it's managed by SWT.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I honestly don't mind paying a token fee to use *clean and sanitary* sanitation facilities.

My experiences at Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly are that NR toilets are anything but clean and sanitary. If I've had to pay 30p I expect them to be spotless, and they seldom are; the concourse toilets at Leeds are more disgusting than the free ones on the platform.

This makes me wonder who paid for the "improvements" at Newcastle Station, if you can call the Borg in the portico an improvement. Was it Network Rail, seeing as they'll be raking it in from the commercial units next year?

 

[telstarbox]

Wouldn't Clapham Junc be busier than Sheffield. IIRC it's managed by SWT.

Yes and several others - my point was that although Sheffield is a large city station, there are suburban stations in London which see more National Rail passengers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_railway_stations_in_Great_Britain

 

[Searle]

Can we look forward to toilet and ticket barriers at York anytime soon then?

There are toilets at York already, and probably no to ticket barriers and the bridge is used as a through route by people!

 

[Starmill]

Highbury & Islington is busier than Sheffield

I was looking at the data the other day and I'm sorry this is off-topic, but it's really scary that some seemingly innocuous and unheard of stations in London are busier than Sheffield (another example: Putney). It also seems over the top to me that Leeds is a whole 3 times busier than Sheffield. Graph attached (may contain errors, created by me in Excel).

My conclusion is that Sheffield is being significantly under-counted. Darnall is one stop out of Sheffield; it has no ticket office and no machine. You really have to wonder how many people are getting free commutes in and out of Sheffield.

 

[Starmill]

There are toilets at York already

That doesn't mean they can't have turnstiles installed (or perhaps, as Northern would have you believe at Manchester Victoria, a 'security enhancement') but it would be a faff given that I recall they all have separate entrances. Also that might inconvenience the staff who always seem to be using them whenever I go to York!

 

[ASharpe]

I would rather use the free Thomas Crapper crappers in the Parcel Yard in Kings Cross...

Is a first class ticket or lounge pass required to use the toilets just outside the first class lounge?

 

[backontrack]

People go through York station to get to the NRM on the other side. I think ticket barriers are a no-go.

 

[Kite159]

People go through York station to get to the NRM on the other side. I think ticket barriers are a no-go.

Is there space for a separate path (similar to the old Reading bridge where a fence ran down the middle so non-ticket holders could still use it to get across to the other side of the station)?

 

[IanXC]

Is there space for a separate path (similar to the old Reading bridge where a fence ran down the middle so non-ticket holders could still use it to get across to the other side of the station)?

To do so you'd loose about half the capacity for the footbridge as its generally accessed from both sides. From memory I think its specifically signed as not being a public right of way, although I don't know what impact that ultimately has.

National Express were trying to install barriers but their application was thrown out shortly before their franchise ended. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/8153287.stm
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Heres the planning application http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/o...ils.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=KBXF5PSJ0A700

 

[yorksrob]

My experiences at Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly are that NR toilets are anything but clean and sanitary. If I've had to pay 30p I expect them to be spotless, and they seldom are; the concourse toilets at Leeds are more disgusting than the free ones on the platform.

Agree totally with Leeds. Can't be doing with paying 30p (40p last time I used them) to hang around in the gents while all three cubicles are occupied.

Pic's are usually a bit better but I don't get on with the hole in the wall hand dryers.

 

[higthomas]

Is there space for a separate path (similar to the old Reading bridge where a fence ran down the middle so non-ticket holders could still use it to get across to the other side of the station)?

Not a perfect solution, but you could just do what they do at Guildford, where they issue bridge passes to get onto the bridge. I think this might be because it is a public footpath, but anyway, it's quite a useful short cut.