Glasgow Queen Street refurbishment and remodelling

[matthewmacleod]

So, not an '11th hour Scottish Government rethink' after all.

I don't like being a cynic, but the Scotsman does have an bit of a habit of this sort of bluster.

 

[kilonewton]

The new staff building was critical in order to demolish the existing building so as to be able to extend platform 1. Platform 1 is somehow critical to deliver before the other extensions in order to run 4 carriage trains / split trains for the next timetable change.
It was thought that the unions wouldn’t accept moving into temporary accommodation for a relatively short period of time, but they have and as a post further above states, the quality of the temporary accommodation is good.
The only issue that I can foresee is how do they get the temporary accommodation out from under any massive multi story car park when it finished without completely demolishing it?

 

[najaB]

The only issue that I can foresee is how do they get the temporary accommodation out from under any massive multi story car park when it finished without completely demolishing it?

Hmm... time to find an engineer who's also a Jenga fan.

 

[scotraildriver]

The new staff building was critical in order to demolish the existing building so as to be able to extend platform 1. Platform 1 is somehow critical to deliver before the other extensions in order to run 4 carriage trains / split trains for the next timetable change.
It was thought that the unions wouldn’t accept moving into temporary accommodation for a relatively short period of time, but they have and as a post further above states, the quality of the temporary accommodation is good.
The only issue that I can foresee is how do they get the temporary accommodation out from under any massive multi story car park when it finished without completely demolishing it?

The unions had no issue in moving to temporary accomodation provided it met basic requirements of breaks/facilities etc. It did and is actually rather good.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Picture on RailScot inside the Station Manager’s temporary office.

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/queen-street-demolition-works-start-on-a-high/

Engineers have craned three specialist machines onto the roof of Consort House as they begin the main structural demolition work to make space for the new Glasgow Queen Street station.

Over the coming months, the light-weight excavators, which were craned over 80m into the air to reach the roof, will break up the building’s reinforced concrete and steel frame floor-by-floor.

The protective scaffold already erected around Consort House will limit any dust and noise pollution escaping into the surrounding city.

Consort House and the adjoining Millennium Hotel extension need to be removed to make way for the new station frontage, concourse and entrances and new longer platforms being delivered as part of the station’s redevelopment.

Contractor Balfour Beatty is carrying out the work to demolish the existing buildings and engineers have been working to prepare the structures for removal since last spring – disconnecting power supplies and other services and stripping out the interiors.

When complete, the redevelopment project will give passengers an expanded concourse with increased capacity and circulation space, improved customer facilities and a contemporary and distinctive building both internally and externally.

Rodger Querns, Network Rail programme director, said: “We are using a unique method to demolish these redundant structures in a way that will limit the impact of our work on both passengers and nearby properties.

“The removal of Consort House and the hotel extension will create the space we need to transform Glasgow Queen Street, constructing a new landmark building for the city and delivering much improved facilities for passengers.”

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/queen-street-demolition-works-start-on-a-high/

Great - when they’ve finished off Consort House, the Millennium Hotel extension and the old buildings at platform 2 they’ll come in handy to demolish the new staff accommodation block

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/new-landmark-for-glasgow-on-track-at-queen-street/

Engineers have begun demolishing Consort House as redundant buildings in front of Glasgow Queen Street make way for the new-look station.

Light-weight excavators, which have been craned over 30m onto the roof, have now begun the process of breaking up the building’s reinforced concrete and steel frame floor-by-floor.

Progress also continues inside Queen Street, with worknow underway to extend platform one. With the demolition of the former ticket office and staff accommodation block on platform two now complete, engineers are extending platform one by 50m.

Over the coming months, undertrack drainage will be created and foundations for overhead power masts installed before 100 tonnes of ballast and 50 meters of new sleepers and rails are laid to create the longer space needed for four-car trains to use the platform.

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said: “We are transforming Glasgow Queen Street and using a unique method to demolish these redundant buildings to create the space we need to construct a new landmark for Glasgow.

“Extending platform one and increasing its capacity from three to four carriage trains is also an important step in our plan to introduce more electric trains to Queen Street.

“The station redevelopment, and the recently completed electrification of the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line, are all part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had – delivering longer, faster trains with more seats.”

When complete in 2020, the redeveloped Glasgow Queen Street station will offer customers an expanded concourse with more circulation space and improved customer facilities in a contemporary and distinctive building.

The new station is being delivered as part of the Scottish Government-funded Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme.

Consort House and the adjoining Millennium Hotel extension need to be removed to make way for the new station frontage, concourse and entrances and new longer platforms being delivered as part of the station’s redevelopment.

 

[Railsigns]

We are transforming Glasgow Queen Street and using a unique method to demolish these redundant buildings to create the space we need to construct a new landmark for Glasgow.

Extending platform one and increasing its capacity from three to four carriage trains is also an important step in our plan to introduce more electric trains to Queen Street.

The station redevelopment, and the recently completed electrification of the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line, are all part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had – delivering longer, faster trains with more seats.

Found it! It's always in there somewhere.

 

[Highland37]

There was a piece on Reporting Scotland about the station last night.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Found it! It's always in there somewhere.

..and will always be a plan rather than reality

 

[snowball]

Transport Scotland press release

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/alternative-plans-at-queen-street-station-made-public/

Alternative plans at Queen Street Station made public
A revised plan at one of Glasgow’s key rail stations is set to yield significant economic and business opportunity for the city.

Working in partnership with various stakeholders, Scottish Ministers have decided to progress a greatly enhanced development at the North Hanover Street car park site of Queen Street Station at an investment cost of around £80 million.

The new plans being taken forward include extensive retail, food and beverage opportunities, and will also deliver a development deck upon which further private sector investment can be taken forward.

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:

“The new proposal will help deliver a 21st century station acting as a catalyst for further private sector investment. Alongside the redevelopment of Queen Street station being delivered as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) this will see a significant improvement to the overall passenger experience and deliver significant economic benefits to the city.”

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said:

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, and other commercial partners, on this ambitious vision for Queen Street. We’re building the best railway Scotland has ever had and these plans will deliver an exciting new development for our customers and the people of Glasgow.

“The station is currently being transformed to allow new longer, faster and greener electric trains to run on our railway and the plans announced today will help to ensure Queen Street continues to play a central role in the social and economic life of the city.”

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

“The revised plans for Queen Street Station will deliver far greater local economic benefit, securing the full potential of the site and will provide significant employment opportunities once the development deck has been fully delivered. The redevelopment will both give the station a retail offer befitting one of Scotland’s busiest transport hubs and provide a striking entry into the city for travellers coming to Glasgow.”

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

“We warmly welcome the Minister’s decision to progress the more ambitious scheme at Queen Street Station. The enhanced retail and leisure offer will improve the passenger experience, and provide more job creation opportunities for the city centre. It’s accepted that Glasgow requires more Grade A offices, and the development deck will provide a desirable location for such investment in the heart of the city.”

The new below-deck development will provide around 3,800 square metres for such facilities, in comparison to the 500 square metres (approx) which would have been provided by the partially constructed project. The layout of the retail, food and beverage outlets will be largely in accordance with previously consented plans.

Projected rental income from the revised plan sees a potential increase from circa £370k with the original proposal per annum to £2.2 million - £2.7 million per annum. The alternative development is pivotal to continued investment around Queen Street station and securing economic benefits to the city making Glasgow a more attractive place to visit and do business.

Works continue on redeveloping the main station building as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) with the recent commencement of the main demolition works of Consort House which is needed to make space for the new Queen Street station frontage.

The revised plan, whilst not part of EGIP, will have no detrimental impact on the delivery of the EGIP key milestones.

 

[Railsigns]

Transport Scotland press release

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/alternative-plans-at-queen-street-station-made-public/

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said:

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, and other commercial partners, on this ambitious vision for Queen Street. We’re building the best railway Scotland has ever had and these plans will deliver an exciting new development for our customers and the people of Glasgow.

I see Mr. Hynes is still in broken record mode. Almost as laughable as "strong and stable".

 

[NotATrainspott]

This is interesting news, because it suggests there are going to be big changes to the Buchanan Galleries redevelopment. I can't see them putting a big multi-storey car park on top of this deck.

 

[InOban]

Absolutely not. Either an office block or a hotel. The current state of the 'big shop' market means that an extension of the Galleries is a nonstarter. To have single storey buildings on the site would be daft. I expect that there are already developers for the above deck site.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

From the 18th of March, the Dundas Street entrance is getting closed and being moved further up to allow the demolition of the Consort House Annex to start. I'm assuming they are just going to use the entrance that leads to Low Level?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Had a look round yesterday, and everything was fine until it all went blurred and when I woke up another of these videos had appeared. You only have to listen to tell I was unconcious at the time
Boxed set also available (all the Queen Street update videos so far).

 

[marks87]

A great photo from Alex Hynes on Twitter showing the trainshed emerging from behind the hotel.

https://twitter.com/alexhynes/status/978939096688136192?s=21

 

[PaxVobiscum]

3 cheers to that.
I hope I survive long enough to see it gone completely - I’ve never been enamoured of that building since I watched it being built.
Good riddance.

 

[385001]

Another image from @NetworkRailGQS from further down Queen Street.

I'm really glad to to see that monstrosity of a building that was the hotel extension disappear.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailGQS/status/978997287820103681

 

[edwin_m]

Is the new building sufficiently transparent for the trainshed still to be visible from these angles. The visualisations suggest it will be a rectangular block of mirror glass bearing no obvious relationship to the curved trainshed.

 

[adrock1976]

An article appeared on the website of the local rag yesterday regarding the possibility of no ticket office at Queen Street.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/...t_Queen_Street_station____sparking_job_fears/

28th March
Glasgow Queen Street: Ticket machines ‘could replace staff at station’

UNIONS fear the ticket office at Queen Street station may be replaced by self-service machines.

The office, which employs around 20 people, has been moved out of the station while a £100 million revamp is completed.

It is currently in the former Vale pub outside, on Dundas Street.

But the future of the ticket office once the revamp is completed is unclear,

A railway magazine report last month contained claims that the revamped station would not include a ticket office., sparking fears among staff that their jobs are in danger.

Scotrail said they are still to make a decision on the ticket office.

The firm would not say if it was going to be based at the new-look Queen Street and they did not confirm if it is to be replaced by self serving machines.

A source told The Evening Times, however, that staff are in the understanding that once the redevelopment works are finished, their role will not be in the ticket office – because it will be replaced by self service machines.

Transport union RMT was told about the article and now the organisation have vowed to get assurances from Scotrail that the workers jobs will be safe.

RMT union chief Mick Hogg said: “We are working with Scotrail just now in order to address this issue.

“Be under no illusion if we don’t get the assurances or guarantees that we actually need then we will be taking Scotrail on.”

He added: “This actually came about as a result of a comment in a railway magazine last month. Reference was made to the redevelopment of GlasgowQueen Street not having a ticket office. This set all sorts of alarm bells ringing as far as the trade union is concerned.

“We found that comment unacceptable, that people who actually work for Scotrail have to find out their future by reading comments in a railway magazine.”

Age Concern hit out at the possible move, saying it could discourage older people from travelling.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland: “A closure like this could adversely affect older and more vulnerable customers, and even discourage some from travelling.

“Many older people feel excluded by the growing trend towards automation and prefer the human interaction with staff when buying tickets. They may have security concerns with machines or simply find them confusing to use.

“Ticket offices play a valuable function in assisting customers, answering their questions, and helping them find the right ticket."

Mr Hogg admitted that the changes in the way tickets are booked is of concern for his union members.

He said: “Scotrail are coming out with new technology and ask people to buy online.

“Even the people working in the ticket office just now have signs above their counters saying buy online.

“That is more or less saying if you buy online, the people working in this ticket office will be out of jobs


“This is unacceptable and we will not be accepting any ticket office closure in any way, shape or form.”

Although a video showing an artist impression of the redevelopment works does include a ticket office inside Queen Street station, Scotrail said they have still to make a decision.

Phil Campbell, who is ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Operations, said: “The way our customers buy tickets is changing. More and more of our customers are buying tickets online or using self-service ticket machines, which means we need to change to reflect that.

“No decisions have been made about what these changes will look like.

“We are working closely with our people and our customers on this.”

“We have a very clear policy of no compulsory redundancies – everyone who currently has a job will still have one.”

Scotrail also said that a passenger assist programme for customers who require help will continue to operate.

The redevelopment works, devised by Network Rail, will see longer trains use Queen Street Station, which is one of the busiest in the city. This will give the trains a greater capacity to ease overcrowding on key routes, including Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Could somebody clarify if that is true or not, as it does seem unusual for a large city (third largest in the UK, the second largest of the former British Empire, and Scotland's largest) not to have a booking office for purchasing tickets.

Also, the machines at present do not issue the Strathclyde PTE concession fares. I can foresee a lot of problems if there are no plans for a ticket office as mentioned in the above article.

 

[marks87]

An article appeared on the website of the local rag yesterday regarding the possibility of no ticket office at Queen Street.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/...t_Queen_Street_station____sparking_job_fears/



Could somebody clarify if that is true or not, as it does seem unusual for a large city (third largest in the UK, the second largest of the former British Empire, and Scotland's largest) not to have a booking office for purchasing tickets.

Also, the machines at present do not issue the Strathclyde PTE concession fares. I can foresee a lot of problems if there are no plans for a ticket office as mentioned in the above article.

Well, there will still be a booking office at Glasgow Central so it's not as if the city as a whole will go without.

But it would seem odd for a station as busy as Queen Street to not have some kind of human presence for selling tickets.

 

[edwin_m]

An article appeared on the website of the local rag yesterday regarding the possibility of no ticket office at Queen Street.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/...t_Queen_Street_station____sparking_job_fears/



Could somebody clarify if that is true or not, as it does seem unusual for a large city (third largest in the UK, the second largest of the former British Empire, and Scotland's largest) not to have a booking office for purchasing tickets.

Also, the machines at present do not issue the Strathclyde PTE concession fares. I can foresee a lot of problems if there are no plans for a ticket office as mentioned in the above article.

Looks like a fairly typical bit of union scaremongering.

Off topic, how can Glasgow have been the second largest city in the Empire but only the third in the UK?

 

[clc]

Looks like a fairly typical bit of union scaremongering.

Off topic, how can Glasgow have been the second largest city in the Empire but only the third in the UK?

Second city of the Empire in it’s heyday. Now third largest in the Uk.

 

[route101]

Well for starters the ticket machines dont sell plusbus or rovers !

 

[sng7]

Bearing in mind the approved plans for the new building have a ticket office and they went to all the hassle of moving the ticket office into the shop across the road for the works i doubt there is any realistic likely hood of there being no ticket office in the finished station.

 

[snowball]

Scottish Parliament, written questions and answers, today, relating to a matter recently discussed in this thread, where I for one didn't understand what was going on:

http://www.parliament.scot/S5ChamberOffice/WA20180329.pdf

Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a partially constructed building as part of the Queen Street Station building project is to be demolished.
(S5W-13982)

Humza Yousaf: Following the conclusion of Scottish Minister led discussions with key stakeholders, including Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, a decision has been taken to accelerate investment in the North Hanover Street site at Queen Street Station. This significantly larger development will result in an enhanced economic return as well as unlocking wider development opportunities in the area, delivering substantial benefits for Glasgow.

The site clearance works undertaken to date facilitate the new proposal. The new design will build on much of the work already delivered. However, some of the initial steelwork already erected at the site as part of the original proposal will now need to be changed to accommodate the enhanced design. A Steering Group involving Transport Scotland, Network Rail, ScotRail, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is being formed to ensure the timely delivery of the development and the securing of benefits for
the city which all parties are committed to.

Key works continue on the station redevelopment being undertaken as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) with the new proposal for North Hanover Street having no impact on the milestones to deliver 8 car platform extensions and enhanced station concourse and frontage.

 

[Highland37]

What are the new proposals for North Hanover Street? It's pretty grim as it is right now.

 

[och aye]

I've looked at a couple of renders, one on the NR Media Centre website:

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....n-street-station-redevelopment-gets-underway#

and this one on the EGIP website:

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....n-street-station-redevelopment-gets-underway#

I was wondering if anyone knows if the big red National Rail sign has been removed from the final design?