Largest new station built in Scotland

[och aye]

Passing through Edinburgh Gateway recently, I was wondering what other brand new station has been built, where no station existed before to this scale or larger in the past 50 or so years. I think Reston would be the closest in terms of platform lengths, but if you include the buildings than Edinburgh Gateway is far larger, as it include the the tram stop.

Am I right in saying that we would probably have to go back to the pre-WW2 era (or even earlier) to find another station larger that Edinburgh Gateway being built?

 

[d9009alycidon]

How about the resited Fort William?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Or, possibly, Edinburgh Park (opened late 2003)?

 

[Dr Hoo]

Partick?

 

[InOban]

Robroyston has a larger car park than the others mentioned

 

[Stopper]

Or, possibly, Edinburgh Park (opened late 2003)?

While brand new and flashy (in what was the middle of nowhere at the time) it’s a pretty bare station in terms of facilities. Edinburgh Gateway is a massive station with excellent facilities, amongst the best in Scotland, however it is lightly used and feels rather eerie due to this.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

While brand new and flashy (in what was the middle of nowhere at the time) it’s a pretty bare station in terms of facilities.

Can't disagree with that analysis. Edinburgh Park has all the aesthetic appeal of a great big American grain silo.

 

[och aye]

While brand new and flashy (in what was the middle of nowhere at the time) it’s a pretty bare station in terms of facilities. Edinburgh Gateway is a massive station with excellent facilities, amongst the best in Scotland, however it is lightly used and feels rather eerie due to this.

Once all the new housing is built to the North of the station is built, I'm sure the passenger numbers will grow steadily. There is a proposal from the developers for a potential new entrance on the other side of the station.

From the consultation website:

Maybury Quarter | Community Consultation

Strengthening connections to existing communities and reaching out to the wider area will be a primary objective for MQE. This includes the potential for a new entrance to Edinburgh Gateway Station, and the delivery of increased cycle routes and facilities in anticipation of significantly increased active travel in the area.

 

[Scotrail84]

Once all the new housing is built to the North of the station is built, I'm sure the passenger numbers will grow steadily. There is a proposal from the developers for a potential new entrance on the other side of the station.

From the consultation website:

Maybury Quarter | Community Consultation

View attachment 166317View attachment 166318

Thats years off, theres a huge factory directly behind the Edinburgh bound platform.

 

[InOban]

I thought that factory closed sometime ago and plans have been submitted for housing.

 

[D1511]

That's the old SAICA paper factory......although I can remember it being Croda Inks years ago. The site has been acquired by housing developer Summix, although temporary meanwhile use permission has been granted as an events venue until 2025. Presumably it'll get flattened after that and the 1000 homes planned for the site will get built.
All those new houses at Cammo aren't far away.....you'd think that might have uplifted passenger numbers at Edinburgh Gateway.....but seemingly not.

 

[Scotrail84]

That's the old SAICA paper factory......although I can remember it being Croda Inks years ago. The site has been acquired by housing developer Summix, although temporary meanwhile use permission has been granted as an events venue until 2025. Presumably it'll get flattened after that and the 1000 homes planned for the site will get built.
All those new houses at Cammo aren't far away.....you'd think that might have uplifted passenger numbers at Edinburgh Gateway.....but seemingly not.

Those houses are upwards of £350k a pop, those buying them have 2 cars, most likely Range Rovers and Mercs, 2 or 3 kids, a Labrador and cash on the hip, public transport will be beneath them.

 

[D1511]

Those houses are upwards of £350k a pop, those buying them have 2 cars, most likely Range Rovers and Mercs, 2 or 3 kids kids, a Labrador and cash on the hip, public transport will be beneath them.

Fair point, but what sort of half-wit would drive into central Edinburgh every day through choice??

 

[Scotrail84]

Fair point, but what sort of half-wit would drive into central Edinburgh every day through choice??

Halfwits that don't care about the ULEZ zone in the city centre.

In fairness, theres a fair few folk who get off at gateway in the morning from fife but these are probably the same punters who would have got off at the gyle before gateway opened.,

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Halfwits that don't care about the ULEZ zone in the city centre.

Do they care about double the journey time?

 

[Scotrail84]

Do they care about double the journey time?

I doubt it, driving in Edinburgh city centre is an absolute nightmare at the best of times. Its just traffic everywhere.

 

[D6130]

Forres?

Inverness Airport?

Kintore?

 

[Scotrail84]

Its likely that Perth station will need to be completely rebuilt in a new location to the North or South of the present one because the current station is listed and its unlikely they'll be able to modify it for the OHL going in. Thats years away though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Its likely that Perth station will need to be completely rebuilt in a new location to the North or South of the present one because the current station is listed and its unlikely they'll be able to modify it for the OHL going in. Thats years away though.

That doesn't seem to have been an insurmountable issue for the countless other "listed" stations around the country that have been (or are being) electrified. What's so special/unique about Perth?

 

[Scotrail84]

That doesn't seem to have been an insurmountable issue for the countless other "listed" stations around the country that have been (or are being) electrified. What's so special/unique about Perth?

It can't be altered in any way. (so I'm told)

 

[D6130]

It can't be altered in any way. (so I'm told)

Carlisle station - also listed and designed by the same architect as Perth (Sir William Tite) - was electrified with minimal alterations to the buildings back in the early 1970s. Admittedly Carlisle was subject to English planning and listing rules, which may well be/have been different to those in Scotland. However the listed station at Perth has been allowed to deteriorate shockingly over the years, with the doors, window frames and ironwork of the non-Dundee side of the station long-overdue for a repaint.

 

[Scotrail84]

Carlisle station - also listed and designed by the same architect as Perth (Sir William Tite) - was electrified with minimal alterations to the buildings back in the early 1970s. Admittedly Carlisle was subject to English planning and listing rules, which may well be/have been different to those in Scotland. However the listed station at Perth has been allowed to deteriorate shockingly over the years, with the doors, window frames and ironwork of the non-Dundee side of the station long-overdue for a repaint.

It definitely needs a lick of paint and some major restoration work or eventually it will become unfit for purpose.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Passing through Edinburgh Gateway recently, I was wondering what other brand new station has been built, where no station existed before to this scale or larger in the past 50 or so years. I think Reston would be the closest in terms of platform lengths, but if you include the buildings than Edinburgh Gateway is far larger, as it include the the tram stop.

Am I right in saying that we would probably have to go back to the pre-WW2 era (or even earlier) to find another station larger that Edinburgh Gateway being built?

I'd go for the privately built and operated* Prestwick International Airport station.

*Owned by a different arms-length company owned by the Scottish Government from ScotRail.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2024 ==

It can't be altered in any way. (so I'm told)

If that was true they would never have been able to build the new passenger lifts and bridge.

 

[Scotrail84]

I'd go for the privately built and operated* Prestwick International Airport station.

*Owned by a different arms-length company owned by the Scottish Government from ScotRail.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2024 ==



If that was true they would never have been able to build the new passenger lifts and bridge.

That wasn't the main station building though, thats been built well away from the main station.

 

[chuff chuff]

Perth and Kinross Council wants public's views on radical plans for Perth's city centre

The ambitious long-term plans include transforming the railway and bus stations into a transport hub and partially demolishing St John's Shopping Centre to create an open seating and play space

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[Falcon1200]

Its likely that Perth station will need to be completely rebuilt in a new location to the North or South of the present one because the current station is listed and its unlikely they'll be able to modify it for the OHL going in.

What modifications, apart from of course erecting masts and wires, would be necessary? I can't think how the station buildings would be affected.

 

[northscots]

Forres?

Inverness Airport?

Kintore?

All 3 are cookie cutter stations that are much smaller than Edinburgh Gateway or any of the others mentioned.

 

[Scotrail84]

What modifications, apart from of course erecting masts and wires, would be necessary? I can't think how the station buildings would be affected.

There are 3 very old bridges that may not allow sufficient clearance for overheads. Not sure if they can be touched, the station canopies may be excluded from being touched as well although I'm not entirely sure.

 

[Stopper]

Once all the new housing is built to the North of the station is built, I'm sure the passenger numbers will grow steadily. There is a proposal from the developers for a potential new entrance on the other side of the station.

From the consultation website:

Maybury Quarter | Community Consultation

View attachment 166317View attachment 166318

You’re right, it has potential to be a semi-busy station serving a reasonably sized residential area, a bit similar to what South Gyle does. However, that’s clearly not why they built it. No suburban/residential/commuter station needs the lavish facilities that are present at Gateway. It was built to serve the Airport via the extortionate tram (for Fife/North passengers only) and it’s backfired on that front.

 

[matchmaker]

There are 3 very old bridges that may not allow sufficient clearance for overheads. Not sure if they can be touched, the station canopies may be excluded from being touched as well although I'm not entirely sure.

Stirling is a listed station and seems to have coped with the installation of OLE fairly well. There is *very* little clearance under the original footbridge!