Network Rail and blocwork announce new vision for Glasgow Queen Street Station development

[och aye]

Network Rail are restarting work on the 2nd phase of the Glasgow Queen Street Station development.

Network Rail and blocwork announce new vision for Glasgow Queen Street Station development

Network Rail, in partnership with its joint venture development partner blocwork, is working on proposals to transform a 0.75 ha (1.85 acre) vacant site adjacent to Queen Street railway station.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail, in partnership with its joint venture development partner blocwork, is working on proposals to transform a 0.75 ha (1.85 acre) vacant site adjacent to Queen Street railway station.


Aligned with Glasgow’s 2030 City Centre Strategy, the scheme will create an enhanced Station Quarter improving the experience and station environment for the circa 15m customers that currently use Glasgow Queen Street. This is in addition to delivering new commercial office space which has the potential to support around 350 new jobs (direct, indirect and during construction), as well as various skills and training opportunities for the city.


The Proposal of Application Notices (PAN) submitted to Glasgow City Council outline the proposals for a landmark office building alongside a new station entrance from North Hanover Street, enhanced station retail space, public spaces, and other station improvements. The project aims to transform the area and improve connectivity from the station to the new look George Square and ‘The Avenues’ public realm programmes currently in development.


The development site is within an area promoted for the growth of retail and business uses, being both within the ‘Principal Retail Area’ and the ‘City Centre Strategic Economic Investment Location’ in Glasgow City Council’s City Development Plan (2017).


The first phase of the development will include the delivery of high-quality office space which will set a new standard for sustainable offices in the city. Future phases of the project could see the addition of future office and residential buildings, with commercial space totalling 40,000 square meters.


The design team for this project is led by Scottish-based architects, the Comprehensive Design Partnership (CDA), in collaboration with Arup. CDA projects span across the UK including MODA Edinburgh, Printworks Manchester and Old Brewery Brighton, while Arup was involved in the recent Glasgow Queen Street station development project.


The PANs detail how blocwork and Network Rail plan to engage with the local community regarding their proposal. As part of the statutory pre-application consultation process, a public consultation event will be held in the Autum to provide information about the proposal and to invite comments from stakeholders, customers and the community.

 

[AndrewE]

I just saw https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgdp1jerz5o and it says

A proposal to expand Glasgow Queen Street railway station has been unveiled by Network Rail.

Land next to the station that is currently vacant would be turned into commercial office space incorporating a new station entrance from North Hanover Street and including extra room for shops inside the station itself.
The rail operator said the plan would make it easier to go from the station to the new look George Square currently being developed.

Looking at the picture in the article I don't see any vacant land... I wonder if they just mean that they will redevelop the west side to create yet more shops to rent out (with some offices above) and another entrance?

 

[Benjwri]

I just saw https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgdp1jerz5o and it says

Looking at the picture in the article I don't see any vacant land... I wonder if they just mean that they will redevelop the west side to create yet more shops to rent out (with some offices above) and another entrance?

They are talking about the east side. It looks like the roof of a building in the BBC's image but is actually just a vacant parking lot with some prefab offices in it.

You are correct that it is just going to be some more shops and offices, but it will earn Network Rail some money and make the station easier to use for customers, so a win in my books.

 

[HighlandStorm]

I thought a phase 2 had been granted planning permission already? A while ago a mate sent me these - not sure of source!

 

[Dr Hoo]

Are there any positive aspects such as new (additional) lifts down to Low Level platforms at the North Hanover Street end, improvements for the inter-station bus link interchange or a new cycle hub?

 

[themiller]

It’s all very well building on vacant land next to stations but it hems them in and precludes the spaces use as an area for temporary offices and work compounds for future station projects. If high rise structures are built there, it makes the station environs feel claustrophobic. I’ve long thought that town planners should come up with a formula for height versus space between adjacent buildings to improve the feel of city centres.

 

[och aye]

If work does commence on this 2nd phase, I wonder if @PaxVobiscum and his seagull will be out to record the development works after the splendid video updates they did on phase 1?

 

[och aye]

There are a few images on the website for the consultation that begins today:

Our proposals | Hanover Street Development

glasgownorthhanoverstreet.co.uk

The 0.75 ha (1.85 acre) site sits beside Queen Street station in central Glasgow, fronting North Hanover Street and Cathedral Street. Previously a car park, it’s now mostly unused – offering a chance to add new life and investment to the area.

• Improve links to and from the station
• Fit with existing buildings and streets
• Create new spaces that enhance city centre life
  

At North Hanover Street, we have identified several key considerations which are split into three themes. By recognising these now, we can design proposals that respect the surroundings and make the most of opportunities...

 

[Russel]

I've only used Queen Street a couple of times since the rebuild but I've noticed how small and cramped the concourse area feels, this should help.

 

[EMU303]

Is Queen St high level near capacity at the peak? With 4 trains per hour to Edinburgh, 2 Alloa, 2 Cumbernauld/Falkirk, 2 Anniesland, 1 Aberdeen, 1 Dundee and the occasional Oban/FW, that’s up to 13 arrivals/departures across 7 platforms.

If the Edinburgh service grew longer term to be in need of further capacity could the station actually cope, or would the G-E mainline also be a restriction?

We might be many years away from such growth (but both cities are growing their populations with multiple developments in the pipeline for Glasgow city centre in particular) so would the proposed development by NR impinge on further growth at the station or are there other limitations regardless?

 

[mcmad]

Compared with pre covid, Queen St is quiet for a large part of each hour with just sets awaiting their next departure and empty platforms.

 

[hux385]

Is Queen St high level near capacity at the peak? With 4 trains per hour to Edinburgh, 2 Alloa, 2 Cumbernauld/Falkirk, 2 Anniesland, 1 Aberdeen, 1 Dundee and the occasional Oban/FW, that’s up to 13 arrivals/departures across 7 platforms.

If the Edinburgh service grew longer term to be in need of further capacity could the station actually cope, or would the G-E mainline also be a restriction?

We might be many years away from such growth (but both cities are growing their populations with multiple developments in the pipeline for Glasgow city centre in particular) so would the proposed development by NR impinge on further growth at the station or are there other limitations regardless?

I think the station throat is too constrained to add any extra platforms on the eastern side of the station. Platform 7 currently reaches almost all the way to the tunnel portal and is one of only 3 platforms at the station that can fit an 8-car 385. If they wanted to put more platforms in on the vacant land, they would have to shorten platform 7 to squeeze the additional tracks in at the top, or dig out a new set of tunnels through to Cowlairs. I'm not really sure that either of those options are very feasible, so developing on the vacant land is probably okay.

 

[themiller]

Is Queen St high level near capacity at the peak? With 4 trains per hour to Edinburgh, 2 Alloa, 2 Cumbernauld/Falkirk, 2 Anniesland, 1 Aberdeen, 1 Dundee and the occasional Oban/FW, that’s up to 13 arrivals/departures across 7 platforms.

If the Edinburgh service grew longer term to be in need of further capacity could the station actually cope, or would the G-E mainline also be a restriction?

We might be many years away from such growth (but both cities are growing their populations with multiple developments in the pipeline for Glasgow city centre in particular) so would the proposed development by NR impinge on further growth at the station or are there other limitations regardless?

This compulsion with selling off as much land as possible has always seemed to me to be foolish. Much better to keep a strategic buffer in case more capacity demands building another platform (or two).

 

[Buzby]

The only saving grace is that they don’t plan a galleried shopping centre with a mezzanine, or flooring across the platforms (like New Street). The old car park will be repurposed with a building that will consume all available space than will be of no benefit to the station or its usage - apart from additional passenger flows. There’ll be no space for additional platforms and because of the low-level line, will even kill any chance of underground expansion.

There was talk of creating a better LL entrance with lifts etc on the opposite side of the road, so the existing building could be sacrificed too.

 

[bluesfromagun]

You couldn't use that space for platforms really anyway, the pile of prefab offices in the former car park comprises all of the train crew messrooms, offices, lockers, and toilets. Plus those of their managers and the support staff.
Those staff all have to be somewhere, and it's grim staff accommodation as it is. The former bothy area was above what's now M&S, and was actually permanent and of a reasonable standard!

 

[Carntyne]

There is provision for another platform next to platform 7.

 

[och aye]

There is provision for another platform next to platform 7.

Can the platform be added quite easily without too much disruption to railway taffic?

 

[Davester50]

I've only used Queen Street a couple of times since the rebuild but I've noticed how small and cramped the concourse area feels, this should help.

If they announced the Aberdeen train platform more than 10 minutes before departure, that would be nice.
It's often fairly obvious when it's the only diesel train at a platform, but sticking the number up would stop the cavalry charge.

 

[Russel]

If they announced the Aberdeen train platform more than 10 minutes before departure, that would be nice.
It's often fairly obvious when it's the only diesel train at a platform, but sticking the number up would stop the cavalry charge.

Oh, so it's Scotland's answer to Euston, problems of their own making...?

 

[Highlander1]

If they announced the Aberdeen train platform more than 10 minutes before departure, that would be nice.
It's often fairly obvious when it's the only diesel train at a platform, but sticking the number up would stop the cavalry charge.

Aberdeen trains get a 15-20 minute turn around at Queen Street. In that time they need to offload the passengers, clean and put out the still manual reservations before passengers are allowed to board.

 

[nlogax]

Oh, so it's Scotland's answer to Euston, problems of their own making...?

Not quite. If you know the train at platform X is yours no-one is going to stop you going through the gates before a general announcement is made.

 

[Falcon1200]

And at Queen Street all platforms are accessible after passing through the barriers.

 

[Davester50]

Aberdeen trains get a 15-20 minute turn around at Queen Street. In that time they need to offload the passengers, clean and put out the still manual reservations before passengers are allowed to board.

Sounds like the passengers fault that. Naughty passengers.

 

[james73]

There is provision for another platform next to platform 7.

Is there? I did wonder why they never added a Platform 0 to the west of Platform 1 to give an extra bay for a 3 or 4-car unit. There was enough room.

Below is a couple of images of the area next to P1 before the two sidings were removed and P1 shortened to accomodate the staff building, built around 1986 I believe.

The image below is from c1976 and you can see there wouldve been space for a Platform 0.

 

[Falcon1200]

Does Queen Street actually need any more that its current 7 platforms? They seem to manage with today's level of service, even in the peaks, and is traffic expected to increase to such an extent that that is no longer the case?

 

[themiller]

Does Queen Street actually need any more that its current 7 platforms? They seem to manage with today's level of service, even in the peaks, and is traffic expected to increase to such an extent that that is no longer the case?

Fully using an asset is fiscally beneficial but having a contingency is the correct way to go!

 

[Carntyne]

Queen Street isn't fully used at the moment, it's a fairly quiet station now we've not fully reinstated the 4tph E&G

 

[Highlander1]

Sounds like the passengers fault that. Naughty passengers.

I wasn't apportioning blame, simply stating the reason the platform is announced later than some would like. It's a small station so the time given to board is more than ample in my opinion.

 

[Davester50]

I wasn't apportioning blame, simply stating the reason the platform is announced later than some would like. It's a small station so the time given to board is more than ample in my opinion.

I know you weren't but it's not really an excuse to the passenger to get through the cavalry charge at the gates and rush to the long distance train, often with luggage, and as I get older I notice I'm not as sprightly as I used to be.
A bit more time at a major (in the Scottish sense), terminal would be better than the current set up.

 

[Highlander1]

I know you weren't but it's not really an excuse to the passenger to get through the cavalry charge at the gates and rush to the long distance train, often with luggage, and as I get older I notice I'm not as sprightly as I used to be.
A bit more time at a major (in the Scottish sense), terminal would be better than the current set up.

I'm sorry but it is not a long distance. The gateline to the platforms is a matter of a few feet. Just because everyone else chooses to charge towards the train, it doesn't mean you have to. The 10 minutes is in my opinion more than adequate. Stock image attached.