Warwick Station

[fkofilee]

Hi All

Travelling back from Birmingham with Chiltern today and saw that the platform at Warwick has a massive chunk missing on it!
Anybody know what that's about? Does it affect trains stopping at the station.

FKO

 

[Lucy1501]

Although your post lacks detail on how severe this is, if you are concerned I would highly recommend getting in touch with network rail's emergency line here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/contact-us/

 

[fkofilee]

No no

Looks like it's already been attended to
But I did wonder why it had had a chunk missing.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

This is an unexpected find by engineers refurbishing the station, believed to be foundations of the first station built on the site in 1852 and burnt down in 1894. It means the refurbishment is paused until a solution is found.

 

[AJDesiro]

The station was undergoing works for the installation of a lift linking to the existing underpass, with a new staircase being built from platform 1 to the underpass, as said above, the works have been paused due to the discovery of undocumented foundations.

The chunk of the platform was removed to allow for a cut and cover tunnel in the ground for the lift and new stairs AFAIK. It should be filled in if the works ever resume.

 

[swt_passenger]

Network Rail explanation - looks as if this was discovered early August:

Railway engineers are urgently redesigning Warwick station’s multi-million-pound accessibility upgrades after an unexpected discovery has forced teams to down tools.

Network Rail was midway through the work to install new lift shafts down into the station’s subway to provide step-free access to both platforms for the first time.

However, workers have found unexpected foundations believed to be from the first railway station built on the site in 1852, which lasted just 42 years before being destroyed by fire in 1894.

Unbeknown to today’s engineers, as it wasn't recorded in the plans of what was then rebuilt 129 years ago, it seems the current building is constructed on top of the original station’s 1852 foundations.

Those unexpected walls lie right where the lifts were due to go, and the substructure can’t be disturbed as it is integral to the existing building and platform.

Urgent Warwick station upgrade redesign begins after unexpected find

Railway engineers are urgently redesigning Warwick station’s multi-million-pound accessibility upgrades after an unexpected discovery has forced teams to down tools.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[Ashley Hill]

Let’s hope any finds are documented before work resumes.

 

[Pinza-C55]

I don't understand why finding foundations from the original station should force an alteration to the plans ? It's not like it is the Colosseum or the Hanging Gardens Of Babylon.

 

[AlastairFraser]

I don't understand why finding foundations from the original station should force an alteration to the plans ? It's not like it is the Colosseum or the Hanging Gardens Of Babylon.

Because those foundations were reused in the existing station and form an integral part of the structure?

 

[fkofilee]

Thank you for clarity all

 

[Halish Railway]

Hi All

Travelling back from Birmingham with Chiltern today and saw that the platform at Warwick has a massive chunk missing on it!
Anybody know what that's about? Does it affect trains stopping at the station.

FKO

I rode on a seven carriage 168 formation from Marylebone to Moor Street, comprised of two two-carriage units sandwiching a three-carriage units.

Announcements were made at Banbury, on the approach to and at Leamington Spa station that the doors in the rear two-carriage unit would be locked out of use at Warwick and anyone in these carriages should alight and transfer into the centre unit at Leamington Spa to alight at Warwick.

 

[Vanmanyo]

It seems that some work has restarted as the contractors were all there last week but I'm not too sure what they were doing (if anything). They were gone for a few months so clearly they've come back to do something? Perhaps NR have finally drawn up new plans and work is restarting?

Network Rail explanation - looks as if this was discovered early August:

Urgent Warwick station upgrade redesign begins after unexpected find

Railway engineers are urgently redesigning Warwick station’s multi-million-pound accessibility upgrades after an unexpected discovery has forced teams to down tools.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[snowball]

Discovery of unexpected underground structure - seems very similar to the situation at Botley Road, Oxford.

 

[barbette165]

The work they are doing is an intermediate activity to re-open the subway between the two platforms. The subway was closed when the work started and remained closed when things stopped for the re-design. The diversionary route between the 2 platforms is about 500 metres.

 

[Vanmanyo]

The work they are doing is an intermediate activity to re-open the subway between the two platforms. The subway was closed when the work started and remained closed when things stopped for the re-design. The diversionary route between the 2 platforms is about 500 metres.

Yeah I've used Warwick several times since the work has been undertaken, it's not too bad the run around but would be nice if they can reopen the subway whilst they can decide what to do next. Lifts are desperately needed for a station serving a town of this size so I do hope they find some solution (whether that means a bridge or something who knows)

 

[david1212]

Will work for the lift to the London bound platform continue?
Given currently this platform is only accessible by stairs step free access here is more important than through the subway to the Birmingham bound platform and the main building. While not ideal and of course not suitable to all once on the road the current walking route is step free plus there would be access to the town centre both by the footpaths at the side of the road and along the footpath beside the railway then the footbridge underneath and the footpath to the ( closed ) police station. The hospital also is on the London platform side of the railway line.
There is, or at least was, a taxi company based in part of the station building. While of course an available vehicle and driver might not always be there a common sense approach would then be an arrangement to carry passengers to/from the access to London bound platform lift.

 

[rob.rjt]

Would a lift to the London bound platform help? My recollection (and the latest Street View, which, admittedly, is from 2008), show two sets of steps joined by a ramp leading to the back entrance. Unless this has changed there is no real incentive to keep going, unless just to keep momentum on the project.

 

[Vanmanyo]

Would a lift to the London bound platform help? My recollection (and the latest Street View, which, admittedly, is from 2008), show two sets of steps joined by a ramp leading to the back entrance. Unless this has changed there is no real incentive to keep going, unless just to keep momentum on the project.

The issue is that once you get to the underpass there's a flight of 20 or so stairs to actually get to the platform so - yes a lift is needed!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Nov 2023 ==

Will work for the lift to the London bound platform continue?
Given currently this platform is only accessible by stairs step free access here is more important than through the subway to the Birmingham bound platform and the main building. While not ideal and of course not suitable to all once on the road the current walking route is step free plus there would be access to the town centre both by the footpaths at the side of the road and along the footpath beside the railway then the footbridge underneath and the footpath to the ( closed ) police station. The hospital also is on the London platform side of the railway line.
There is, or at least was, a taxi company based in part of the station building. While of course an available vehicle and driver might not always be there a common sense approach would then be an arrangement to carry passengers to/from the access to London bound platform lift.

Would seem a very big hassle just to get passengers to the other side of the station. I think NR are currently planning the next steps. I still think an overhead footbridge could work (with some foundation works on Platform 2), allowing for people to move along platform 1 to reach the lift then you could have 2 levels for platform 2: the platform and then lower to the exit (where the Subway currently exits). I think that would work if NR can't work around these foundations!

 

[rob.rjt]

The issue is that once you get to the underpass there's a flight of 20 or so stairs to actually get to the platform so - yes a lift is needed!

Of that I am aware. The implication I took the post before my last was that the London bound platform lift should be built and brought into operation to allow step free access to that platform. My point was that doing that would not help, as there are still steps to get to that point.

 

[david1212]

The issue is that once you get to the underpass there's a flight of 20 or so stairs to actually get to the platform so - yes a lift is needed!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Nov 2023 ==


Would seem a very big hassle just to get passengers to the other side of the station. I think NR are currently planning the next steps. I still think an overhead footbridge could work (with some foundation works on Platform 2), allowing for people to move along platform 1 to reach the lift then you could have 2 levels for platform 2: the platform and then lower to the exit (where the Subway currently exits). I think that would work if NR can't work around these foundations!

A bridge with lifts would work in principle to give step-free access from the main building and the Birmingham bound platform to the London bound platform. The practical issues are the platforms being staggered and the line plus London bound platform on an embankment. Put the bridge at the Leamington Spa end of the Birmingham bound platform and there is not width on the London bound platform for the steps and lift so major foundations are required. Potentially better would be to put a bridge with lifts at the Birmingham end of the London platform but I suspect the ground/embankment would still be an issue. The secondary shortcoming is no step-free access to the road where the subway exits to the road that provides the rear access.

Of that I am aware. The implication I took the post before my last was that the London bound platform lift should be built and brought into operation to allow step free access to that platform. My point was that doing that would not help, as there are still steps to get to that point.

I am presuming part of the work would be to create step-free access to the road that provides the rear access to the subway and hence as originally planned both lifts. If not indeed just one lift between the subway and the London bound platform fails to achieve step-free access.

 

[Vanmanyo]

I am presuming part of the work would be to create step-free access to the road that provides the rear access to the subway and hence as originally planned both lifts. If not indeed just one lift between the subway and the London bound platform fails to achieve step-free access

Yeah there would be a ramp going down. I think you can find all the blueprints online which show it quite well

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Nov 2023 ==

Yeah there would be a ramp going down. I think you can find all the blueprints online which show it quite well

No sorry - I've just looked at the blueprints for the Hospital side exit and there seems to be no ramp? (image taken from NR website)

 

[david1212]

No sorry - I've just looked at the blueprints for the Hospital side exit and there seems to be no ramp? (image taken from NR website)

While too steep to replace the existing few steps with a ramp I would have expected a ' U ' shape one to be included in the work.


From the National Rail website the subway has been reopened until lift installation work restarts.

Warwick Station | National Rail

Discover Warwick railway station. Getting to & from, buying & collecting train tickets, staffing, facilities, accessibility, & mobility access.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Network Rail are currently installing lifts at Warwick station, funded by the government’s ‘Access for All’ scheme. This work is currently paused but will eventually restart and continue throughout 2024. The subway between the platforms has now reopened, though it will need to close again in 2024 (at a date to be confirmed) when the lift installation work restarts.

 

[Vanmanyo]

While too steep to replace the existing few steps with a ramp I would have expected a ' U ' shape one to be included in the work.


From the National Rail website the subway has been reopened until lift installation work restarts.

Yep - can confirm the subway is open and basically looks the same as it did before. There's a semi permanent metal railing blocking the stairs up to platform 1 (the bit of platform that doesn't exist atm) and they've removed the yellow edging on the stairs so I doubt they will be used ever again!