Planning application to refurbish Glasgow Central low level:
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Glasgow Central - low level refurbishment
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Scotrail314209
Established Member
I don’t know whether I like it or I hate it.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Like Liverpool Central I'm not quite sure how you would make it not be that.
Without wanting to sound too blunt, I don't think it can hurt. Certainly making the direction of running more clear for each platform is an improvement.
Most of all though I hope that they fit a significantly-improved passenger information system, as the current one with a single tiny summary board for each platform is utterly hopeless. You're lucky if your train is displayed on it for more than twenty seconds in each minute as it rotates through all the special notices.
Most of all though I hope that they fit a significantly-improved passenger information system, as the current one with a single tiny summary board for each platform is utterly hopeless. You're lucky if your train is displayed on it for more than twenty seconds in each minute as it rotates through all the special notices.
Falcon1200
Established Member
It could certainly do with refurbishing, although personally I would like to see the disused island platform restored for the operational benefit. However that would be a bit more expensive.....
Does anyone know when this will take place? I presume during the March to May blockade of the Anderston tunnel?
Also I don't know about the colouring, from what I can see it does look a bit dull. Especially the support pillars.
Also I don't know about the colouring, from what I can see it does look a bit dull. Especially the support pillars.
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Is that this year? Glasgow City Council aren’t known for processing planning applications (or anything else) quickly.
py_megapixel
Established Member
My first impressions are that it looks nice in principle but those columns could really do with some cladding. Also, the benches look absolutely horrid - what's wrong with a traditional shape?
The chevrons on the walls are an interesting touch, and in my opinion a good idea - as long as they actually match the direction the trains are running in on each side of the island. Though there seem to be far more of them on the left hand side than the right, which I don't like.
The chevrons on the walls are an interesting touch, and in my opinion a good idea - as long as they actually match the direction the trains are running in on each side of the island. Though there seem to be far more of them on the left hand side than the right, which I don't like.
Scotrail314209
Established Member
I imagine it will look better once it's done.
It would be a nice touch if the chevrons were illuminated along with the lettering on the walls.
It would be a nice touch if the chevrons were illuminated along with the lettering on the walls.
The application says the following about the columns
The planning application shows that they are arranged in a 1-2-1 fashion on both sides
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fgwrich
Established Member
Argh, another design suffering from one of my architectural pet peeves. What is wrong with uplighting? Or at least improved ceiling mounted lighting? We seem to enjoy the dinginess of stations like Birmingham New Street.
Strathclyder
Established Member
Like @Scotrail314209 says, it'll likely look better if/when it's done; these renderings rarely do the finished product any favours (just look at the rendered unit in the first image in post #1; looks like a unholy 170+320 hybrid). Having traversed this section of the Argyle Line as recently as Tuesday, I'd say this is at least a decade overdue (though the reasons for a serious proposal not being put forward before now are of course staring me in the face): dark, dingy, tatty and worn out are charitable descriptors for Central Low Level in it's current state.
Indeed, have always found the current single PIS screen for each platform setup wholly inadequate given how busy it is. And that's to say nothing of what's actually on those screens most of the time; more than once I've found myself impatiently waiting for it to cycle through those bloomin' special notices so that it gets to my train (the info I actually want and need to see).
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I believe they will be, if my reading of the design drawings is correct.
It wouldn't be quite so bad if the trains running through the platforms had destination displays on the sides, but that's not happening any time soon. Ideally they should have the platform numbers clearly displayed so that you can see them at the foot of the stairs without having to look across to the opposite walls, and the PIDs should always be showing the next two trains on each platform without cycling away.
If they then also installed extra displays that are clearly visible further down the platforms people might be a bit more willing to spread themselves out too.
Strathclyder
Established Member
If that is indeed the case, it'd be a nice touch.
Am honestly a bit surprised none of the types regularly used on the Argyle Line don't have side-mounted destination displays (the only ones to have worked through there in the last decade that've had them are the 380s that were used on the Dalmarnock - Garscadden shuttles during the Commonwealth Games*), but not likely to happen anytime soon as you say. But yeah, something along the lines (ha) of what you outline there would be a marked improvment in terms of improving the PI systems, the passenger flow etc over the status quo. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what actually transpires I suppose.
*: Dunno why I had it in my head that 334s have/had side-mounted destination displays. Not that it really matters, as they're rather rare down in Central Low Level these days (with that said, I saw 2 - 016 & 20 - working independently on Argyle Line duties this past Tuesday).
In fairness, nothing built by BR does, and even internationally they were a bit of niche pursuit well in to '90s and somewhat uncommon even into the 2000s. Had it been up to me I'd have considered fitting them to the 318s and 320s when they had their PRM mods done.
Strathclyder
Established Member
Aye, true. And that would've been a ideal time to fit them had it been planned. I suspect that when the time comes to replace the 318s/320s outright, the new stock will come with such provisions in place.
d9009alycidon
Member
For expensive read impossible, having been on that platform during the tour I can confirm that the Westergate Building is built partially over the old platform.
JIm
Falcon1200
Established Member
Thanks, it was rather a forlorn hope anyway !
Southsider
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It’s covered in a fantastic thread on the Urban Glasgow website. Warning, it’s 115 pages of compulsive reading. The Westergate foundations are on page 115.
185
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Be okay in low passenger number times, however the limited seating equals more people standing equals more overcrowding on a not-too-wide platform.
What is the smell?
No idea, but everytime I go down the steps I get a runny nose because of whatever that stale smell is in the station
Blindtraveler
Established Member
Assume that both lifts will be replaced or heavily refurbish during these works? I know that network Rail trying to replace them when they are 25 or so years old and the existing ones down there must be that if not over. I can see the point above earlier about escalator editions but suspect that this would be very costly and possibly logistically challenging. Or rather it would be without a much larger structural project and this to me looks as if it's just a fairly cosmetic redecorating with some no doubt repairs and other such jobs when they they get started and find problems. An air management system wouldn't do any harm either
Has this area had any significant money spent on it at all since it was opened?
Has this area had any significant money spent on it at all since it was opened?
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