High Street (Glasgow) Station Redevelopment

[ld0595]

This is the first I've read of High Street station being developed. Definitely long overdue but nonetheless good to see and will hopefully help freshen up the area a bit.

High Street station to be rebuilt under new £10m development plans

TRANSPORT Scotland is set to receive £10m from Glasgow City Council for the refurbishment of High Street station.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

Transport Scotland is set to receive £10m from Glasgow City Council for the refurbishment of High Street station.

A new build, modern and fully accessible station with “an improved presence” is being planned.

The station is currently in a “poor condition” and loses revenue due to the lack of ticket barriers. Cash for the revamp will come from the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a more than £1billion investment by the Scottish and UK Governments in eight local authorities. Councillors are being asked to approve awarding the money to Transport Scotland when they meet on Thursday. It will be used to cover professional, technical and construction fees to deliver the project.

High Street station, originally known as College, was built in 1866 and has two platforms serving the North Clyde line. A council report states: “Currently, the station is in poor condition with limited pedestrian access, lack of modern facilities and does not comply with the Equalities Act. “Ticket barriers are not in place resulting in a loss of revenue that could support development.” It adds the project area “faces various social, economic and environmental challenges” which “present major barriers to investment”. “Despite development and the provision of a new hotel in the area, significant private sector investment and regeneration are required for it to reach its potential."

The station is a “key gateway” into the area, used by 400,000 people per annum, and passenger numbers are estimated to reach 1.5m per year by 2043. Back in 2017, the council appointed consultants for the development and design phases, with input from key stakeholders such as Transport Scotland and Network Rail. A partnership working group, including the council, Transport Scotland and Network Rail, has been set up to plan the delivery of the station. It has decided the project should be delivered by 2025. The group recommended Transport Scotland is responsible for the work, with Network Rail as its delivery partner. “Transport Scotland will be responsible for managing the project budget and identifying additional funds, should these be required,” the council report states.

A full business case will need to be approved by the Glasgow City Region: City Deal chief executives’ group. The High Street station plans are part of the Collegelands Calton Barras project, which will receive £27m of City Deal money. The scheme aims to “unlock” development potential in the area, attract jobs and create a better-connected place. One related project is the redevelopment of the Glasgow Meat Market site, where more than 250 flats are being built.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

This is the first I've read of High Street station being developed. Definitely long overdue but nonetheless good to see and will hopefully help freshen up the area a bit.

High Street station to be rebuilt under new £10m development plans

TRANSPORT Scotland is set to receive £10m from Glasgow City Council for the refurbishment of High Street station.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

It's been discussed about for years. There was talks about closing the current High Street and building a complete new station to integrate it with proposed Glasgow Crossrail which never came to fruition.

 

[route101]

It's been discussed about for years. There was talks about closing the current High Street and building a complete new station to integrate it with proposed Glasgow Crossrail which never came to fruition.

Wasnt there also plans to have HS2 services come into a new station at High St?

 

[greyman42]

Of it's current 400,000 passengers, are these local residents, shoppers, business, students or what?

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Of it's current 400,000 passengers, are these local residents, shoppers, business, students or what?

Not much business wise at High Street, but Strathclyde Uni is a stone's throw away.

Also there are various blocks of flats in the near vicinity and it's the closest station to Merchant City.

So it's probably a mixture of residents and students.

 

[InOban]

Isn't it also the nearest station to Glasgow Royal Infirmary?

 

[PaulMc7]

Isn't it also the nearest station to Glasgow Royal Infirmary?

Yep. 5 mins down the hill from it

 

[Carntyne]

High Street is the only upgated station in Glasgow City Centre, so the numbers will be far higher than that.

 

[Altnabreac]

I hope they at least future proof provision of extended platforms to take 8 x 23m stock. Looks like they can be extended westwards without too much difficulty but may be worth doing the hard work now to future proof it.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

...So it's probably a mixture of residents and students.

plus those wanting to avoid paying a fare

 

[InOban]

I hope they at least future proof provision of extended platforms to take 8 x 23m stock. Looks like they can be extended westwards without too much difficulty but may be worth doing the hard work now to future proof it.

Westward? Line goes into the tunnel. Eastward blocks the old junction down to the Bridgeton station. The East end of the existing platforms are very narrow.

 

[Altnabreac]

Westward? Line goes into the tunnel. Eastward blocks the old junction down to the Bridgeton station. The East end of the existing platforms are very narrow.

I meant Eastwards! It should be possible to extend the east end, but better to plan it now, especially if the current platforms need a bit of widening.

 

[clc]

I’m not sure why the money is coming out of the City Deal pot as it’s surely Transport Scotland’s responsibility to fund station upgrades.

 

[NotATrainspott]

I meant Eastwards! It should be possible to extend the east end, but better to plan it now, especially if the current platforms need a bit of widening.

One of the ideas people have floated around to help kickstart the Glasgow Metro is to largely undo the Argyle line project and instead link up the former Bridgeton Central branch to the rest of the Argyle line network. This idea has various flaws, but one of the biggest is the problems it causes at High Street station. The existing station seems to be the way it is because the Bridgeton Central branch diverged right at the eastern end of the platforms. Extending the platforms would mean the existing cutting couldn't be used, and so the cost of the scheme would go up even more.

I still think 8x23m is unrealistic for the North Clyde network but 6x23m should definitely be achievable with a proper rebuild of this station.

 

[Altnabreac]

One of the ideas people have floated around to help kickstart the Glasgow Metro is to largely undo the Argyle line project and instead link up the former Bridgeton Central branch to the rest of the Argyle line network. This idea has various flaws, but one of the biggest is the problems it causes at High Street station. The existing station seems to be the way it is because the Bridgeton Central branch diverged right at the eastern end of the platforms. Extending the platforms would mean the existing cutting couldn't be used, and so the cost of the scheme would go up even more.

I still think 8x23m is unrealistic for the North Clyde network but 6x23m should definitely be achievable with a proper rebuild of this station.

I keep banging on about it but 8 x 23m is the future and no Scottish projects outwith WHL, Stranraer and Far North should be upgrading infrastructure without at least passive provision for 8 x 23m as the long term requirement.

 

[InOban]

But how long are the station boxes at Queen Street and Charing cross? That sets the limit, and while the boxes are longer than 6*23 I doubt they are enough for 8*23m.

 

[gingertom]

But how long are the station boxes at Queen Street and Charing cross? That sets the limit, and while the boxes are longer than 6*23 I doubt they are enough for 8*23m.

I think Charing Cross has options to the west, but on a curve, which is far from ideal. Queen Street you are talking about extending into the tunnels, which is expensive.
Westerton is constrained by having junctions at both ends of the platforms.