major stations needing a revamp

[daccer]

Following on from Lord Adonis' comments about Southampton Central I have tried to find some pictures of the station and it does appear very run down - totally out of all proportion to its important status. Can anybody confirm if it really is as bleak as it appears.

Also whilst we are on the subject have plans for Crewe moved on at all. Also any movement on Wakefield Kirkgate yet? It seema that there are numerous stations that have fallen into disrepair which still retain their original features. Any suggestion for worthy causes which warrant some of Adonis' station revamp budget. My local station is Kettering which seems to have had consistent investment in it over the last two decades.

It does seem that there is no consistent policy on station revamps and developments which leads to a very patchy network of stations. With the money now flowing into the network it now seems that station development is back on in vogue. At the moment I am aware of work being undertaken in London at Kings Cross and Paddington (roof repairs) and some small work at Euston. Shotton, Filey and Halifax all have had work announced or started and it seems Bolton and Man Vic are in line also. Derby continues apace also. Any other works underway or due to start soon?

 

[Daimler]

Major work is planned for Euston, actually. I'm not sure when, but they want to knock it down and start afresh - gone will be the soulless '60s horror, with its dark platforms and near-universal absence of places to sit. There's even talk of rebuilding (or at least replicating) the Doric Arch!

I'd like to see more work done at Shrewsbury. It's already pretty good in places, but some areas look almost abandoned - a shame, when you consider how beautiful it is. While they're at it, if they could protect and permanently keep the gorgeous somersault signals and 'box, I wouldn't complain!

 

[Geezertronic]

I can't wait until they start Birmingham New Street... that station is well in need of some tlc

They could tart up Birmingham International while they were there... I did think they were going to add a Platform 6 to the station as there was clearing work happening alongside the Platform 5 line but nothing else seems to have happened...

 

[Mojo]

I should hope they're not adding another platform at Birmingham International. It's already got one platform with rusty rails!

 

[Geezertronic]

I should hope they're not adding another platform at Birmingham International. It's already got one platform with rusty rails!

Which one is that then?

 

[FLHH East Anglia]

Which one is that then?

The one that don't get used a lot,5 possibly?

 

[F Great Eastern]

Birmingham New Street and Euston are obvious candidates for me, when I was waiting for the Caledonian sleeper recently nowhere to sit at all, it was crazy,

 

[Mojo]

I can't remember the platform numbers, but it's the one that isn't an island, I get the feeling number 1.

 

[Geezertronic]

The one that don't get used a lot,5 possibly?

Platform 5 gets used all the time for the London Midland locals that terminate and start at Birmingham International. They also use Platform 5 for the overnight "parking" of London Midland units. I'd say Platform 1 is the least used but even that has been done up and is being used more than previously. Last week a delayed Pendo going to New Street was positioned there

 

[BlythPower]

I did think they were going to add a Platform 6 to the station as there was clearing work happening alongside the Platform 5 line but nothing else seems to have happened...

I think it was just being used as a work area while they replaced the pointwork around the station.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Speaking for Wakefield Kirkgate - improvements are ongoing.

More information can be found at www.wymetro.com

Have a look at the projects and plans section.

 

[daccer]

good news that Kirkgate is finally going to get something done. From photos it seems that there is some architectural merit in the station even in its current state. I hope that when they do redevelop they dont just flatten the site but see if some of the features ca be retained. There does seem to be a more positive view on our railway heritage nowdays. With Network Rail sitting on a 35bn pot over the next five years and not having to worry about dividends and profit margins maybe some of the forgotten gems can be resurrected.

On another note I am trying to see if I can find a station built after 1960 that has any redeeming features at all. There seems to be plans in place to rebuild most of these abominations (Euston,New st, Peterborough, Stafford, Luton, Victoria)etc. It might be an idea just to say that anything built in this period is now life-expired (as the trains from the era are) and should go to recycling heaven. It really is amazing at how impractical these 'modern' stations are and how pessimisticaly they were built.

I like Adonis. He is a politician and acutely aware of the passage of time as all politicians are. However rather than seeing this as an opportunity to sit on his hands and pass the buck onto his successor he is seeing it as a challenge to get things done quickly. he wont be around for ever and as such rail lobbyists should be queuing at his door with their schemes and lets hope some of our great stations receive their dues.

 

[spoony]

Please rebuild Sunderland station. Maybe not a major station as such, but it a city and deserves so much better than what it has. Such a pity as I believe it was quite decent until the Luftwaffe redesigned it. It had an overhaul for the 1966 World Cup and I believe thats about it

 

[jon0844]

It really is amazing at how impractical these 'modern' stations are and how pessimisticaly they were built.

I also wonder how many of the new Jubilee Line train stations will fare, as well as the new stations along HS1 - Ebbsfleet and Stratford. All cheap, concrete boxes. Actually the lower level of St Pancras isn't exactly great either - but it has been covered up a bit to make it less bland.

If these stations were super-super cheap then I could possibly understand it, but they probably aren't.

 

[Daimler]

I also wonder how many of the new Jubilee Line train stations will fare, as well as the new stations along HS1 - Ebbsfleet and Stratford. All cheap, concrete boxes. Actually the lower level of St Pancras isn't exactly great either - but it has been covered up a bit to make it less bland.

If these stations were super-super cheap then I could possibly understand it, but they probably aren't.

I agree about the new stations on HS1 - Ebbsfleet looks terrible - in the style of Euston, but new, and about the new part of St. Pancras - though would add the EMT upper level to the poor quality areas.

However, I do think the new Jubilee line stations, on the whole, are fantastic - Canary Wharf is the obvious example, but stations all along are pretty good - I'm a big fan of Westminster. They look modern and nice.

 

[Aictos]

Peterborough seriously needs work done on it - from new platforms to better access and only have a layout where as only taxis or buses stop outside the station at the current entrance. With a new pick up point on the West side along with new platforms for XC services designed as a island with easy access to the Nene Sidings as a must.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I also wonder how many of the new Jubilee Line train stations will fare......

I have to agree with Daimler on that one. The Jubilee line stations are, in the main part, outstanding. They have all been built to improve safety, be simple to use and be able to cope with large increases in demand - something which they all seem to do perfectly.

I think the best example of the stations is North Greenwich (for the o2). It copes remarkably well the the large influx of people following concerts etc. Canary Wharf is also particulary well designed. When one looks at many of the cramped, dirty, overcrowded holes in the round that make up many of the underground stations, those on the Jubilee are a real breath of fresh air. Best underground line in the world as far as I am concerned.