Wakefield Kirkgate refurb - any recent pictures?

[daccer]

I am interested in the progress of this work. Can anyone report on its current status? Is the building looking in any better shape yet or is it still shrouded in scaffolding? Pictures would be most appreciated.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

When I was there last week the building was all boarded up on the station side and from the forecourt outside the station it looked as though they were doing a lot of work, most of it was surrounded by scaffolding and there was a large exclusion zone in front of it, and a lot of men milling about where the old entrance was.

 

[pdq]

Here are a couple of snaps I took this afternoon...

 

[daccer]

Great stuff- many thanks. Looks like they are doing a thorough job on the building. Maybe a reflection on how railway heritage is viewed nowadays. In the dim distant past I am pretty sure it would have been torn down and replaced with a bus shelter.

 

[AndyHudds]

Hopefully passenger numbers will increase when it's refurbed, what with the improved facilities and a more safer feel, especially after darkness descends. Even I don't feel particularly comfortable using the station on a night. And will Northern capitalise on the opportunity with maybe a new service through to Manchester Victoria through the Calder Valley?

 

[pdq]

Is the dilapidated pub next to the station going to be pulled down? Not the greatest view once you leave the station.

 

[tom1649]

I'm so pleased that this building is being renovated. I hope serious consideration has been given to installing a fully staffed ticket office. The station would feel safer with one for a start.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Is the dilapidated pub next to the station going to be pulled down? Not the greatest view once you leave the station.

I think its listed, saying that though even I'd want to tear it down and replace it with a bus stop.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Rejoining the Huddersfield-Wakefield stopper with the Huddersfield-Manchester Vic stopper is perhaps more likely? It would make sense to free up Platform 4 at Huddersfield.

 

[AndyHudds]

I'm so pleased that this building is being renovated. I hope serious consideration has been given to installing a fully staffed ticket office. The station would feel safer with one for a start.

Apparently the owners are sitting on it hoping the renovation will increase its value!!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm so pleased that this building is being renovated. I hope serious consideration has been given to installing a fully staffed ticket office. The station would feel safer with one for a start.

It is planned to I believe, however as part of some community-led scheme, so not your traditional booking office that you'd find at places like Wakefield Westgate, Leeds etc.

 

[tom1649]

It is planned to I believe, however as part of some community-led scheme, so not your traditional booking office that you'd find at places like Wakefield Westgate, Leeds etc.

Hope that doesn't mean it'll only be open every third Wednesday morning of alternate months then. Really it's a busy enough station for the PTE/TOC to organise it themselves I think.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Rejoining the HUD-Wakey to the HUD-MCV stopper is a non-starter in the short to medium term for a number of reasons... Firstly, the Colne Valley nodding donkey is set to be replaced by TPE semi-fasts soon. Secondly, I'm not sure how merging them would free up P4 at HUD anyway, as the Wakefield generally uses P5, which is too short for either of the Leeds stoppers much of the time.

Back on topic, it's great to see Kirkgate finally getting sorted out and re-staffed, though think how much easier it would be if it hadn't been allowed to fall into such disrepair in the first place!

 

[Mugby]

Seeing that the Leeds platform now has a rather nice glass canopy, I do hope one will be provided on the opposite platform.

It would be rather odd to have a commodious canopy on one side and just a bus shelter on the other.

 

[jamesontheroad]

I think its listed, saying that though even I'd want to tear it down and replace it with a bus stop.

I'd rather it was refurbished and turned into a good independent pub. Every station should have one

 

[Luke185]

There was talk of a little shop and/or cafe, office space of some description upstairs. Grand Central have also put in quite a lot of money, and are supposedly interested in having some sort of GC-branded first class lounge there - i'm guessing they would need to staff that somehow though - maybe with some more of their station volunteers.

 

[yorksrob]

I'd rather it was refurbished and turned into a good independent pub. Every station should have one

There must be plenty of room within the station building to have a good quality licensed buffet.

 

[AndyHudds]

Rejoining the HUD-Wakey to the HUD-MCV stopper is a non-starter in the short to medium term for a number of reasons... Firstly, the Colne Valley nodding donkey is set to be replaced by TPE semi-fasts soon. Secondly, I'm not sure how merging them would free up P4 at HUD anyway, as the Wakefield generally uses P5, which is too short for either of the Leeds stoppers much of the time.

Back on topic, it's great to see Kirkgate finally getting sorted out and re-staffed, though think how much easier it would be if it hadn't been allowed to fall into such disrepair in the first place!

Not sure why there isn't a Wakefield Manchester service, with the redevelopment of Westgate there is space for a bay platform to accommodate a new Manchester service, as well as the Huddersfield service instead of of moving up into the sidings, obviously providing the pathways could be found on the Calder Valley route. This would give Brighouse and the proposed Elland station an extra Manchester service an hour, as well as Hebden Bridge an extra service in each direction.

 

[HowardGWR]

Looking at the two stations, it doesn't look as if one is more (or less) convenient than the other. I also thought a free bus tours around.

Is that correct?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Looking at the two stations, it doesn't look as if one is more (or less) convenient than the other. I also thought a free bus tours around.

Is that correct?

There is indeed a free bus during the daytime Monday to Saturday. The two stations are both 5-10mins walk from the main city centre shopping and business areas.

 

[Welshman]

Not sure why there isn't a Wakefield Manchester service, with the redevelopment of Westgate there is space for a bay platform to accommodate a new Manchester service, as well as the Huddersfield service instead of of moving up into the sidings, obviously providing the pathways could be found on the Calder Valley route. This would give Brighouse and the proposed Elland station an extra Manchester service an hour, as well as Hebden Bridge an extra service in each direction.

Up until the 1970's,there were through services from York to Manchester Victoria, via Wakefield Kirkgate and the Calder Valley line.

It would be good to see these restored, thus not only giving Wakefield a through service to Manchester, but also to Castleford & York too.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Not sure why there isn't a Wakefield Manchester service, with the redevelopment of Westgate there is space for a bay platform to accommodate a new Manchester service, as well as the Huddersfield service instead of of moving up into the sidings, obviously providing the pathways could be found on the Calder Valley route. This would give Brighouse and the proposed Elland station an extra Manchester service an hour, as well as Hebden Bridge an extra service in each direction.

Up until the 1970's,there were through services from York to Manchester Victoria, via Wakefield Kirkgate and the Calder Valley line.

It would be good to see these restored, thus not only giving Wakefield a through service to Manchester, but also to Castleford & York too.

With the new building at Westgate it certainly would be easier to provide a bay, though I'm not sure it would be that easy. The Doncaster end of the platforms span the bridge over Westgate, meaning the existing platforms would need extending to the North to allow them to be cut back to make space for pointwork to the bay(s)... Do-able, but not cheap! Additionally Wakefield council and Metro want a bay to allow the Kirkgate to Knottingley service to extend to Westgate. I imagine that would take priority over a new Manchester service.

Running MCV-Hebden Bridge-Brighouse-Kirkgate-Castleford-York might be a better idea, but it wouldn't be quick, and would avoid the significant population centres of Halifax, Huddersfield, and Leeds so I'm not convinced it would be viable. Besides with a shortage of DMUs and little prospect of any new ones it might have to wait...

 

[Sapphire Blue]

With the new building at Westgate it certainly would be easier to provide a bay, though I'm not sure it would be that easy. The Doncaster end of the platforms span the bridge over Westgate, meaning the existing platforms would need extending to the North to allow them to be cut back to make space for pointwork to the bay(s)... Do-able, but not cheap! Additionally Wakefield council and Metro want a bay to allow the Kirkgate to Knottingley service to extend to Westgate. I imagine that would take priority over a new Manchester service.

..

But surely they will soon have to extend the platforms northwards anyway, so that I don't have to walk so far to the first class carriages. At the moment it is practically a taxi ride away from the station building

 

[61653 HTAFC]

But surely they will soon have to extend the platforms northwards anyway, so that I don't have to walk so far to the first class carriages. At the moment it is practically a taxi ride away from the station building

Fair point... I was slightly surprised this wasn't done at the same time as the new building, but what was done will have had little impact on operations other than stopping points for local/xc services. Actually shifting the platforms North would require signalling alterations even if bay(s) aren't provided.

 

[ianhr]

IMO rather than an UP side bay, the DOWN side at Westgate needs drastic rebuilding. The through road is little used and could become a reversible platform road on the east side of an island platform with a new DOWN main platform on it's outer, western face. It would require shifting everything to the north but there is space. The reversible centre road could then also form a badly needed extra passing loop to allow EC & XC trains to pass locals in the event of late running. At the moment there is no loop for passenger trains north of Hemsworth and late running is endemic causing very poor performance on the Sheffield/Doncaster-Leeds locals as well as long distance trains. EC try to get round the problem by allowing a lot of recovery time for arrival at Leeds.

This would be expensive and since this is the North of England it will never happen.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

IMO rather than an UP side bay, the DOWN side at Westgate needs drastic rebuilding. The through road is little used and could become a reversible platform road on the east side of an island platform with a new DOWN main platform on it's outer, western face. It would require shifting everything to the north but there is space. The reversible centre road could then also form a badly needed extra passing loop to allow EC & XC trains to pass locals in the event of late running. At the moment there is no loop for passenger trains north of Hemsworth and late running is endemic causing very poor performance on the Sheffield/Doncaster-Leeds locals as well as long distance trains. EC try to get round the problem by allowing a lot of recovery time for arrival at Leeds.

This would be expensive and since this is the North of England it will never happen.

As has been stated above, any practical improvements at Wakey Westgate will need the platforms extended Northwards anyway. Both Metro and Wakefield City Council want a bay for the Knottingley service, and putting that on the up side would make sense rather than crossing both main lines. Perhaps a second bay is needed, to allow locals to be turned early at times of disruption... Not so great for the people of Outwood, mind...

As for extending the Knottingley service to Westgate (and bringing us vaguely back on topic), I'd also be concerned by the extra crossing moves that would generate at Kirkgate.

 

[ianhr]

Back to Kirkgate, I am surprised that the scheme did not include replacing the rather wet subway with a footbridge. Admittedly the subway is brighter and better lit now, and presumably complies with accessibility legislation as it has ramps, but the constant ingress of water will cause it to deteriorate again before long.

I wish they would provide proper canopies on the island platform as this is where most passengers have to wait for trains to Barnsley, Sheffield, Nottingham, Pontefract & London. As it is, it is rather bleak, rain and wind swept and gives the station an asymmetrical appearance.

 

[ic250]

What they really need to do is restore the roof, which will keep away the elements from everyone on all platforms.

Sadly the crusade against station roofs across the British railway network continues, with London Bridge following the recent path of Blackburn and Rugby in having its wonderful (though deteriorating) roof replaced by boring canopies.

 

[AndyHudds]

Back to Kirkgate, I am surprised that the scheme did not include replacing the rather wet subway with a footbridge. Admittedly the subway is brighter and better lit now, and presumably complies with accessibility legislation as it has ramps, but the constant ingress of water will cause it to deteriorate again before long.

I wish they would provide proper canopies on the island platform as this is where most passengers have to wait for trains to Barnsley, Sheffield, Nottingham, Pontefract & London. As it is, it is rather bleak, rain and wind swept and gives the station an asymmetrical appearance.

The island platform has been done on the cheap and the original shelter has just been left in place. It could have been replaced by a new stylish, all glass effort, to give it a pleasing and comfortable appearance. The tarmaced platforms look second rate too, but are a big improvement on before. The rampant appearance of Buddleia needs addressing too.

I suppose the erection of a footbridge and the filling in of the subway would mean lifts would need to be built, driving the cost of the renovation up.

 

[Grumpy]

All the money frittered away at Kirkgate and Westgate has been wasted. The end result for both is unsatisfactory.
They should have bitten the bullet, flattened Kirkgate and rebuilt with 4 long through platforms, electrified,full facilities, M/S car park Then divert everything to run through there. Either shut Westgate or make into a halt for local services only.