Glasgow Central - New Platforms 12 & 13 Come To Life

[jonnorail]

Hi all. I visited Glasgow Central High Level station on Thursday 15th and Saturday 17th April 2010 to capture, with the camera, the trememdous progress that is being made on the construction of the new build platforms 12 and 13. Little to say the least, track is now partially, nearly fully laid to accommodate the two new platforms. A double track stretches off from a set of points and straight through the station's famous arch into the station. Overhead electrification portals and two new signals have been erected of which all await testing. Below are 20 photographs taken over my two visits last week. Full information is also provided below with full captions provided for most images on my website itself of which I hope to have all captions complete over the next day or two (for sure).

Photographs From Thursday 15th April 2010:
Passsengers alight from a service which has came into terminate on platform 15
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343136.html
Class 334 012 departs platform 15 en - route to Wemyss Bay (ex 10.50 service). The view shows the tremendous progress being made:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343137.html
Platforms 14 and 15 have been rumoured to be receiving improvements in the near future. New track, overhead electrification equipments and new platform surfaces for each platform are objectives that will be carried out if this has to go ahead in the near future. Class 334 011 and Class 334 017 are seen occupying these two platforms waiting to work their next duties:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343144.html

Photographs Taken From The Station Carpark:
Track is now partially, nearly fully laid with overhead electrification portals erected also:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343138.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343139.html
This view will change over the next week or so:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343140.html
Looking west:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343141.html


TWO EXCLUSIVE VIEWS - Showing the new build platforms 12 and 13 coming to life. Balfour Beatty workmen at work, bricklaying what will be known as platforms 12 and 13. Track has now partially been laid for the two new platforms and it will not be long before this view changes until all the track is laid and all work is complete. Looking above, you can see the new overhead electrification portals have been erected with wires to be added over the next week or so. If you look closely, you can see where the buffers will be installed at the platform ends. The completion date for the new platforms is Sunday 2nd May 2010 and the official opening date when the platforms will be in full working use is Sunday 9th / Monday 20th May 2010:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343142.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343142.html

Photographs From Saturday 17th April 2010:
The boarding protecting still platform 11 will soon be removed and the new build platforms 12 and 13 will be unveiled next month. Class 156 503 in Saltire livery is seen sitting inside platform 11 waiting to work the 12.37 service to Paisley Canal:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343145.html
Saltire Reflections - Class 156 503 reflects off the train dispatcher box on platform 11:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343146.html
looking west from the top of platform 11 showing the two new double tracks have been laid to accommodate the new build platforms 12 and 13 at Glasgow Central High Level station. The double track, as you can see, is linked to a set of points before carrying on straight through the station's famous arch and into the station. The rail layer vehicle can be seen ahead, sitting stable awaiting its next track laying duties. Overhead electrification portals have been erected and are awaiting to be connected with associated wires. Two new signals, one for each new platform, 'GG 5612' & 'GG 5613' have also been erected and both await testing:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343147.html
A closer view showing the double track laid just before passing under the station's famous arch:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343148.html
The arch now with double track passing through it to accommodate platforms 12 and 13:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343149.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343150.html
New controlled signal 'GG 5612' will be the new signal for platform, of which has still to be turned on and tested:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343151.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343152.html
Looking east into the station from the top of platform 11. The view shows the station's atch with double track running through it, new overhead electrification portals erected and lots of work taking place through the arch itself. A class 334 train set is seen sitting inside platform 14 waiting to work its next duties:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343153.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343154.html
The points which the double track stretches off to accommodate platforms 12 and 13, looking west:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64343155.html

More to come over the final few weeks of this project. I hope you enjoyed the updates

Best Regards

Jonathan McGurk

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I passed it on the Ayr train on Fri 16/4, then inbound on the Monday.

We saw the same guy with his feet sticking out of the digger window and reading the paper both days :P

 

[TGV]

Whoa. I haven't been to Central for a couple of years. I used it for years including when I studied in Glasgow, so I know (knew!) the station well. Between what used to be 12 and 13 and the long platform 11 used to be the car park and the building that was originally built as the Eurostar North of London terminus building, but ended up being shops. Is that the area that's been converted into new platforms? Has the car parking area gone now? Are the platforms for 6 or 8 car EMU's for Ayrshire and Inverclyde lines? Is 11 still as long as it was (longest platform in Scotland...)?

SO many questions...

 

[Railsigns]

The new platforms 12 and 13 will have a standage of 162 yards / 148 metres, so will be long enough for 6x23m cars.

Platform 11 is still as long as it always was and yes, the car parking area has gone now.

 

[philcfc1905]

Very interesting photos, looking forward to seeing the work completed.

Thanks for posting all the best Phil.

 

[Railsigns]

I saw a loaded 156 leaving the new Platform 13 this morning.

 

[jonnorail]

Hi all. On Sunday I visited Glasgow Central station to catch the final few 'finishing off' photographs prior to the platforms opening (Wednesday 12th May 2010). Photographs from Sunday can be found below with more to come tomorrow night from tomorrow during the day, when I am visiting the station to show the two new platforms in working use.

Photographs - I will add captions later this evening when I have more time.
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809370.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809371.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809372.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809373.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809374.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809375.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809376.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809377.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809378.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809379.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64809380.html

Best Regards

Jonathan McGurk

 

[Pumbaa]

Lovely shots, especially that last one at the end!

 

[Mr Spock]

i passed through the station yesterday evening and both platforms were occupied - P12 with a 6 car 334 train and a single 156 in P13. Unfortunately due to ongoing work you cannot get past the portal at the moment.

 

[Bill EWS]

Thanks for that interesting update at Glasgow Central Traininthebrain. Very interesting. especially too that I noticed some of the work going on when in Glasgow for a weekend of the 11th of April.

On my freeday on the Monday I enjoyed a train outing taking in Ayr, Troon, Girvan and Milngavie. I had not been to any of these places before and enjoyed the visits and using the electric services in the area.

I had planned to go to Stranraer but the service isn't that good and would have spent too much time in one place. I took a photo looking south from the end of Ayre station. I am now wondering how long a service will be available to Stranraer and should have taken the opportunity to experience the route just in case it gets closed down before I get the chance again soon. I really hope it doesn't get closed.

Here are the railway photos I took at most of the places mentioned.

http://billreid678.fotopic.net/c1844367.html

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Went into the new 12 yesterday. They will now be used for electric services from Ayr/Largs/Gourock etc. They were originally meant to be used exclusively for the Glasgow Airport trains, but obviously they won't now.

 

[CarterUSM]

Went into the new 12 yesterday. They will now be used for electric services from Ayr/Largs/Gourock etc. They were originally meant to be used exclusively for the Glasgow Airport trains, but obviously they won't now.

Doesn't say anything about that on the docker. I'm quite sure the canals will use them also, and indeed any other service not requiring over 6 coaches.

 

[jonnorail]

Hi all. I popped into Glasgow Central High Level station on Friday evening (13th May 2010) to take some photographs of the new platforms 12 and 13, which are now open inside the station. The two tracks for the new platforms go through the famous station arch and is quite a dramatic scene in terms of changes to made to the station. Below are photographs and information from my visit to the station:

Class 318 252 is seen sitting inside platform 14 getting ready to work a late night service to Ayr. The two new platforms are both seen unoccupied and looking as modern as can be!:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834217.html
The Junction where the track leading into the stations' new platforms goes from single to double track and straight through the arch and down into the station. Notice the new signals for the platforms:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834218.html
A closer look at the unoccupied platforms 12 and 13 showing the new buffers:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834219.html
A view looking south from the bottom of platform 12. The view shows the two new tracks for the new platforms going through the famous station arch:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834220.html
Four photographs showing platform 12 occupied by Class 156 437 having just worked a service Paisley Canal:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834221.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834222.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834223.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64834224.html

Best Regards

Jonathan McGurk