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Glasgow Queen Street refurbishment and remodelling

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takno

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Why can't one see the overall roof in this rendition? Is that going too?
As far as I know they're just hiding it again. The Queen Street twitter feed had a picture celebrating the old roof becoming visible which got deleted, possibly when somebody pointed out they just planned to put a slightly less awful carbunkle back in front of it. Now they're focusing on showing it from the inside and boasting about how light and airy it will be because the new carbunkle is glass
 

HowardGWR

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As far as I know they're just hiding it again. The Queen Street twitter feed had a picture celebrating the old roof becoming visible which got deleted, possibly when somebody pointed out they just planned to put a slightly less awful carbunkle back in front of it. Now they're focusing on showing it from the inside and boasting about how light and airy it will be because the new carbunkle is glass
Although the AI doesn't show it, I suppose if it's all glass, then the roof will be visible through it?
 

takno

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Although the AI doesn't show it, I suppose if it's all glass, then the roof will be visible through it?
I'd guess it would wreck the lines. Tbh I'm pretty relaxed about the next building - it's not what I'd have chosen, but it's less ugly than what was there, and it will likely be a far nicer station inside. It was only when old roof got exposed this week that I started looking at it and thinking "You'd be mad to go hiding that"
 

Mingulay

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I'd guess it would wreck the lines. Tbh I'm pretty relaxed about the next building - it's not what I'd have chosen, but it's less ugly than what was there, and it will likely be a far nicer station inside. It was only when old roof got exposed this week that I started looking at it and thinking "You'd be mad to go hiding that"

One can never judge till it's done as AI s can be misleading in terms of finish and how the light plays on it ( Dundee V & A a case in point ) but I am encouraged at the design and look of Queen St . Good modern architecture can sit well against traditional. It's better than Haymarket. Which is very functional and airy and is vastly better than before , but there were some better designs that were more ambitious but Edinburgh heritage status may have had a part to play. Think we will be pleased with Queen St in a few years. It as nothing to cherish as it was
 

Highland37

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I agree with the above post. My whole life I have known the current Queen Street and it is not an inspiring place. Everything seemed to work but in the same way everything seemed to work on my Mum's Triumph Dolomite but wasn't particularly good at anything.

Is there a map of the new station layout available anywhere?
 

route101

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I agree with the above post. My whole life I have known the current Queen Street and it is not an inspiring place. Everything seemed to work but in the same way everything seemed to work on my Mum's Triumph Dolomite but wasn't particularly good at anything.

Is there a map of the new station layout available anywhere?

Yeah , does not have the character that Central has .
 

och aye

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Part of the old North British Station Hotel signage was revealed the other week:

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailGQS/status/981574084785041410
DZ857s6WsAA2Lrz.jpg


DZ87nCuW0AA7JNR.jpg


This is a view from 1955:

http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSE01305
TGSE01305.jpg
 

Highland37

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It looks like that hotel might need to spend some money now that it is going to be more visible.
 

theironroad

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

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

1a9e624623f74593ac9891c2956e00bc.jpg


and this one on the EGIP website:

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

exterior_day_signage_final_edit.jpg


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

I don't know the answer but while it may just be a scale thing on the rendered images, the red cube sign looks out place on the new building.
 

theironroad

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It looks like that hotel might need to spend some money now that it is going to be more visible.

I'm guessing most of that side will be re-hidden by the new glass fronted building, though I'm sure that the government could pick up the bill for a touch up and some paint from the hotel as part of the project.
 

theironroad

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As far as I know they're just hiding it again. The Queen Street twitter feed had a picture celebrating the old roof becoming visible which got deleted, possibly when somebody pointed out they just planned to put a slightly less awful carbunkle back in front of it. Now they're focusing on showing it from the inside and boasting about how light and airy it will be because the new carbunkle is glass

It's a shame that they couldn't have refurbished the train shed exterior and incorporated a new front facade and concourse in a similar way to the St Pancras and Kings Cross projects of blending old and new.
 

InOban

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They couldn't have because it was essential to move the concourse southwards so that the platforms could be lengthened to eight coaches. It is strange that the NR renders don't show the old station span behind the new frontage.
 

theironroad

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They couldn't have because it was essential to move the concourse southwards so that the platforms could be lengthened to eight coaches. It is strange that the NR renders don't show the old station span behind the new frontage.

I guess I was thinking about removing the 60s concrete office block as they are and having the front of the new glass building where it is going to be , but then have a glass roof to connect the new front facade with the bottom of the train shed arch. It's probably visualised a wee bit clearer in my head than writing it lol
 

edwin_m

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I'm guessing most of that side will be re-hidden by the new glass fronted building, though I'm sure that the government could pick up the bill for a touch up and some paint from the hotel as part of the project.
It looks like there is a big hole to be filled in the end of the hotel (covered with polythene in the picture) - I think the concrete block was an extension to the same hotel so they would have knocked through for access to it.
 

theironroad

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It looks like there is a big hole to be filled in the end of the hotel (covered with polythene in the picture) - I think the concrete block was an extension to the same hotel so they would have knocked through for access to it.

I did wonder if that was a passage through from the hotel to the concrete block.
 

swt_passenger

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I did wonder if that was a passage through from the hotel to the concrete block.
Definitely was. The hotel has a planning application in to extend upwards, it shows the connecting link at that position on each of the various ‘existing’ floor plans.
Glasgow planning reference is:
14/02813/DC
Alterations and extension to hotel.
Millennium Hotel 40 George Square Glasgow G2 1DS

Part of the reasoning for extending higher is to replace all the lost bedrooms in the extension.
 

the sniper

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I'm guessing most of that side will be re-hidden by the new glass fronted building, though I'm sure that the government could pick up the bill for a touch up and some paint from the hotel as part of the project.

I can see them paying for it, if only to eliminate the "North British" hate speech adorning the side of the building as quickly as possible. :lol:
 

marks87

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I wonder if modern day 'Scotrail' will ever become 'Scottish Railways'.

Why would it?

In this era of brand being everything, ScotRail is snappy, descriptive and to the point.

Scottish Railways is just cumbersome (those two extra syllables make all the difference) and dare I say old-sounding.
 

theironroad

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Why would it?

In this era of brand being everything, ScotRail is snappy, descriptive and to the point.

Scottish Railways is just cumbersome (those two extra syllables make all the difference) and dare I say old-sounding.

I'm not really advocating for it, I agree that Scotrail sounds ok.

I've not analysed any of this, but there seems to be a gradual drift to grander names, 'great western railway' , 'south western railway' , 'west Midlands railway' etc. Sure there are plenty of others that are snappier and yes brand is overly focused on on the UK's rail network.
 

68000

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The decision was made by Transport Scotland in 2008 to have the same branding for ScotRail irrespective of who runs the service. The ScotRail name came from the time under Chris Green in the '80s. The TS branding includes the strapline 'Scotland's Railway' and I doubt it is going to change soon
 

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HowardGWR

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Definitely was. The hotel has a planning application in to extend upwards, it shows the connecting link at that position on each of the various ‘existing’ floor plans.
Glasgow planning reference is:
14/02813/DC
Alterations and extension to hotel.
Millennium Hotel 40 George Square Glasgow G2 1DS

Part of the reasoning for extending higher is to replace all the lost bedrooms in the extension.
Good research, thanks. I've pondered whether, if the extensions had all been in the identical classical style of the hotel, there would have been a cat in hell's chance of knocking them down. The homogeneity of it all would have been seen as sacrosanct, as opposed to a chance to demolish 50s brutality.
 

takno

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Good research, thanks. I've pondered whether, if the extensions had all been in the identical classical style of the hotel, there would have been a cat in hell's chance of knocking them down. The homogeneity of it all would have been seen as sacrosanct, as opposed to a chance to demolish 50s brutality.
I think I almost prefer the old extension to a massive great shoe box looming over the hotel like that.
 

Highland37

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I think I almost prefer the old extension to a massive great shoe box looming over the hotel like that.

Check out the book Disappearing Glasgow. I like a lot of the 60S stuff, but not Consort House.
 

HowardGWR

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I think I almost prefer the old extension to a massive great shoe box looming over the hotel like that.
Yes, possibly I didn't make it clear. I meant, had both the hotel extension and the office block been the same height and classical style as the original hotel itself - then I think demolition would have been difficult.
 

takno

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Yes, possibly I didn't make it clear. I meant, had both the hotel extension and the office block been the same height and classical style as the original hotel itself - then I think demolition would have been difficult.
Ahh sorry, I meant the proposed new extension skywards is a massive great shoe box looming over the hotel.

I largely agree that a copied-style extension would have been more difficult to take down. Mind you, there was an extension to a listed art-deco building on Tollcross in Edinburgh which was so good that most people didn't realise it wasn't part of the original. That got knocked down last year to be replaced with yet another glass cube
 

ScotTrains

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I think it is a shame the plans didn't include a 1st class lounge within the station, especially as Scotrail are (supposedly) trying to improve their 1st class service. The relatively new lounge at Central is often packed, showing there is clearly a demand.

Perhaps the millennium hotel could get direct access to the station. I believe the hotel is still used as scotrail's 1st class lounge.
 

mde

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I believe the hotel is still used as scotrail's 1st class lounge.
Not according to their website, but, given any direct access to the side hotel stopped when the George Square entrance was closed off I'd assume any reciprocal arrangement probably terminated some time ago as the connection would become a bit more inconvenient (although, not as inconvenient as the mobility access arrangements, which are proving to be a continuing comedy).
 

ScotTrains

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Not according to their website, but, given any direct access to the side hotel stopped when the George Square entrance was closed off I'd assume any reciprocal arrangement probably terminated some time ago as the connection would become a bit more inconvenient (although, not as inconvenient as the mobility access arrangements, which are proving to be a continuing comedy).
It looks like Scotrail have recently updated their website. Other websites, eg Trainline, are still showing lounge facilities at the hotel.
https://www.thetrainline.com/stations/glasgow-queen-street

Unfortunately, It appears Scotrail have now significantly reduced their 1st class provision.
The Waverley lounge has shut, Queen Street no longer has facilities, Inverness lounge no longer accepts Any Scotrail tickets and Aberdeen lounge no longer accepts Scotrail only tickets. I suspect the Aberdeen lounge will be next to close or passed to VTEC.

It's a shame space for a lounge in the future wasn't included in the Queen Street plans, Dundee and Inverness redevelopments too for that matter. A new operator may well want to improve Scotrail's 1st class offering in the future.
 
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