New Wolverton Station Building Blueprints

[al green]

Reasons given by LM were mostly variants on 'not enough time to attach/detach'. However initially there was no attach/detach because they were only running as 4 cars out of Euston so it wasn't a very convincing argument.

LM state that they need 6 mins for attach/detach. But their Govia colleagues at Southern do it in 4 mins at Haywards Heath et al. No explanation of why LM needs 50% more time than Southern. perhaps Tringonometry can enlighten us?

With today's timetable in the up direction there is plenty of time because service spends at least 8 mins at Nton and often arrives early too. So losing a minute would be OK. Its tighter in the down direction with 5 mins to detach. Losing 1 min, to allow for a call at Wton, would reduce it to 4min. Southern can do that but not apparently LM.

I think that the LM TV service has to hit a particular path at Rugby because of the 3 track section between Brinklow and Attleborough where there is only 1 down track.

 

[Tringonometry]

LM state that they need 6 mins for attach/detach. But their Govia colleagues at Southern do it in 4 mins at Haywards Heath et al. No explanation of why LM needs 50% more time than Southern. perhaps Tringonometry can enlighten us?

I think it's mostly because some customers seem to find the whole splitting trains thing practically impossible to come to grips with. How some people can be quite so obtuse beggars belief. :roll:

With today's timetable in the up direction there is plenty of time because service spends at least 8 mins at Nton and often arrives early too. So losing a minute would be OK.

Where do you get the idea that adding a station stop adds "a minute"? At least two. At least.

Its tighter in the down direction with 5 mins to detach. Losing 1 min, to allow for a call at Wton, would reduce it to 4min. Southern can do that but not apparently LM.

Again - 1 minute is very optimistic. Clearly, I'm not in a position to comment on Southern's timings. What stock are they using?

 

[MK Tom]

Increasing the line speed between Northampton and Rugby would enable services to reach Northampton a few minutes sooner - allowing the extra time for the Wolverton stop. It's a complete mystery to me why that line is 75mph; it has stretches that are dead straight.

 

[Tringonometry]

Increasing the line speed between Northampton and Rugby would enable services to reach Northampton a few minutes sooner - allowing the extra time for the Wolverton stop. It's a complete mystery to me why that line is 75mph; it has stretches that are dead straight.

Next time you ride it take a look at how far off vertical many of the OLE structures and signal posts are.

That'll be a big part of your answer, right there.

 

[al green]

Tringonometry

Where do you get the idea that adding a station stop adds "a minute"? At least two. At least.

Well it may not be the most reliable of sources but its the LM timetable. Eg xx25 Nton-Wton-MKC 16 mins, xx50 Nton-MKC non-stop 15 mins. So that's just 1 min difference. The xx05 with a stop takes 17 mins, that's 2 min difference. So a stop at Wton adds somewhere between 1 and 2 mins on average.

Both Southern and SouthEastern manage to attach/detach in 4 mins - again see timetable at Haywards heath, Horsham and Faversham. Not sure of rolling stock but most likely 377 and Networkers.

 

[bILLOO]

Here's a crazy idea: Increase the line speed between Rugby and Northampton?

I thought they'd do that when the WCML was upgraded. 75mph does seem a little poor.

Doesn't LM want to by-pass Northampton with the Crewe services in the future (IE, via the fast lines).

 

[MK Tom]

I thought they'd do that when the WCML was upgraded. 75mph does seem a little poor.

Doesn't LM want to by-pass Northampton with the Crewe services in the future (IE, via the fast lines).

Yeah that's Project 110. As much as I want to see Northampton better connected, I think that's a brilliant idea. It'll massively improve journey times between the horribly ill-served Trent Valley Line stations and London (and MK which makes my journeys to Stafford a lot faster). Plus it frees up space for improvements to London-Northampton services and one will be timed to connect with the TV service at Rugby. The TV service would only stop at MKC south of Rugby and the new Northampton service would do what the TV currently does of stopping at MKC and Watford Jct. With 110mph running that'll be slightly faster than it is today which is another baby step towards making up for Northampton's lack of VT services.

 

[Greeby]

Just to give some update: The steel frames, the internal roof support columns and the parallel roof supports have all gone up over the past 2-3 weeks.

When I went there to see Britannia come back on Saturday, the main curved roof beams had been put in place. The south wall has been started to a height of about 7-8 feet. I reckon the brickies will be moving in with a vengeance this week.

 

[andyfrommk]

Progress update:

Two different angles but the lamppost still gets in the way

A poster on a wall nearby says the booking hall will be open in "Spring 2012".
Any different to what it was when you posted last fortnight greeby?

 

[Tringonometry]

Tringonometry

Well it may not be the most reliable of sources but its the LM timetable. Eg xx25 Nton-Wton-MKC 16 mins, xx50 Nton-MKC non-stop 15 mins. So that's just 1 min difference. The xx05 with a stop takes 17 mins, that's 2 min difference. So a stop at Wton adds somewhere between 1 and 2 mins on average.

The xx50s get an extra minute to allow for loading of passengers at MKC, so the net reduction is two minutes.

Trust me, you would have to be *very* bold on the brake to pull off a stop at Wolverton and only drop one minute. Suicidally so.

 

[Greeby]

The main difference since my last post is the buildup of the floor and the foundations works on the south side to prepare for the exit ramp.

When I visited on Friday, the scaffolding was going up. Presumably to blitz the remainder of the brickwork and the steel for the roof (Judging by the parts stacked in the compound)

As for the opening, don't pay much attention to that. The schedule was held up because apparently there was more cabling running through platform 5 than anybody knew about. The second phase of the brickwork was meant to start in September, and the planned handover of the building was meant to be early January. Although to be fair they've worked Saturdays and done some parts out of order when possible, in order to catch up.

 

[eMeS]

...
...The schedule was held up because apparently there was more cabling running through platform 5 than anybody knew about. ...

Platform 5? Is that the one that used to serve the Newport Pagnell branch? Was there a platform 6?

 

[Greeby]

Platform 5? Is that the one that used to serve the Newport Pagnell branch? Was there a platform 6?

Yup, that platform face now being built on was platform 5 for the Newport branch. Even into the 80's it was still there as a siding.

 

[Trog]

Even into the 80's it was still there as a siding.

I know I installed it.

It was used for a temporary telephone exchange in containers mounted on a pair of flat wagons. Until they were replaced by the building towards the north end of the car park. At which point Muggins was sent out to shorten the siding again.

 

[Greeby]

A sad sight from the Wolverton Past blog. The demolition of the station building.

 

[andyfrommk]

Another progress update: Brickies look done, looks like the glazers are up next, not sure what needs to be done on the inside though

Taken from the top of the stairs for platforms 2 and 3

Taken from the top of the stairs on platform 1

 

[Greeby]

Just took a trip down there on my way to Tesco. The internal blockwalls for the toilet and booking office, as well as the structure for the retail unit are up. Plastering and painting going on, and looks to nearly be done

 

[Trog]

Is it just me that thinks that from the outside the new building looks like the LNWR substation buildings built for the Euston Watford DC electrification.

 

[al green]

Is it just me that thinks that from the outside the new building looks like the LNWR substation buildings built for the Euston Watford DC electrification.

If it does its no accident. Part of the design remit was to reflect the railway architecture of Wolverton, ie LNWR.

I attended topping out ceremony a few weeks ago. Formal opening ceremony won't be until mid May but building should be in use before then.

 

[pitdiver]

All I can remember was that it was typical of many where entrance was from the over bridge, with tickets on sale and with stairs down to the platform. I expected to find an image on the Frances Frith website, but there's no railway photos in the 20 they list for Wolverton.

Edit:

I have found one shot in 1988 in my own collection - I'll see if I can upload it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here's the image of Wolverton Station in October 1988

This picture brings back some bad memories for me. About 3 yards to the left is where I got hit by a car in about 1987. Resulted in a broken pelvis and numerous cuts requiring a large number of stitches in some very delicate places. Meant spending 3weeks in Mk General Hospital. Never did like Wolverton after that.

 

[eMeS]

Work at Wolverton Station has now got to the messy earthworks stage, and here's a shot I too at around lunchtime today.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I know I installed it.

It was used for a temporary telephone exchange in containers mounted on a pair of flat wagons. Until they were replaced by the building towards the north end of the car park. At which point Muggins was sent out to shorten the siding again.

Hell's teeth, that was a while ago! I remember the siding but not the wagons going, so it must have been before the time the platforms were extended for 12-car, in about 1989? Ah, happy day, using a train on a works job!

 

[aylesbury]

Shame that they could not rehab the old building as it always looked a good building.Pity they couldnt reopen the tramway to Stony Stratford it would be a very useful service for the locals.

 

[andyfrommk]

Work at Wolverton Station has now got to the messy earthworks stage, and here's a shot I too at around lunchtime today.

Nothing much has changed in the past month.....

.....except for a bit of brickwork and paving-laying.
Not sure if the clock is working but it was only 15 minutes late when I visited.

The view from the platform, taken in the gap between hoardings and the only shot that shows (almost) the interior.

Shot of the Side of the building where the night gate will be, taken by holding my cameraphone over the hoarding. (does that count as a trespass shot?).
Looks like there is a partition with a few square skylights between the roof cavity and the booking hall below.

And finally two unexciting sideshots

My condolences to you pitdiver, I always worry whan I walk that path, unfortunately there is nowhere to widen the path without doing some major historic vandalism

... hey, did you ever see a small manhole cover on that path that says something like "LNWR washing" or something like that where the Glyn square shops are? next time I'm up there I'll get a photo.

 

[eMeS]

Now that it's nearing completion, I think it must be one of the more pleasing of the contemporary buildings in Wolverton.

 

[al green]

The new station building will be opened by the Mayor of MK this afternoon.

 

[pitdiver]

It seems a shame that the opening hrs of the Booking Office may be reduced.

Monday-Friday 06:15-13:15
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

These are the current opening hours as per NR Website. I wonder what they will be reduced to

 

[al green]

It seems a shame that the opening hrs of the Booking Office may be reduced.

Monday-Friday 06:15-13:15
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

These are the current opening hours as per NR Website. I wonder what they will be reduced to

They won't be reduced. This was confirmed to me today by the Group Station Manager.

 

[pitdiver]

This is a list published yesterday on this forum showing that LM have put in a request to reduce opening hrs of a list of stations including Wolverton.

Can be checked herehttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm120614/text/120614w0001.htm#12061455000032

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A bit off-topic perhaps, but was there ever an opportunity to reinstate the original alignment at Wolverton on the dead-straight route?
The kink in the WCML has always seemed an undesirable solution.
I guess it must have gone out of railway ownership when BREL was sold off, but it looks a short-sighted decision by BR.
I have been through the station a zillion times but never got off, so I am not familiar with the local setup.