Glasgow Queen Street refurbishment and remodelling

[Ianigsy]

The gateline really needs to be removed pretty damn quick. It's the cause of a serious amount of congestion on both sides of the sides and given the shortage of space it's time they stopped worrying about revenue for a little while and started giving passengers some breathing space. It's made even worse by the current entrance to the low level being through the main gateline.

Agreed- arriving with a Daytripper last Thursday I had to wander up and down the gate line three or four times before catching the eye of one of the three staff on duty to let me out.

 

[mcmad]

The low level (and platform 1) now have a separate entrance/exit but with no gateline, only a couple of bodies checking tickets/smart cards. Doesn't work very well as it doesn't count as a swipe out with a smart card!

 

[Ianigsy]

I'd arrived from Helensburgh Upper - I had a timed entry ticket for the Hill House but due to the chaos on Thursday morning and having to take a bus from Dalmuir and walk up the hill in 24 degree heat, I didn't fancy walking back down if the service from Central was still up the swanny!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

A grab from the latest update due out tomorrow (it’s clearer on the video):

 

[route101]

Agreed- arriving with a Daytripper last Thursday I had to wander up and down the gate line three or four times before catching the eye of one of the three staff on duty to let me out.

About time you can get a daytripper printed on ticket stock

 

[Ianigsy]

About time you can get a daytripper printed on ticket stock

I can't disagree, particularly when the booking clerk at Central LL had to print off a voucher and write the Daytripper number on it to record the sale. And that's without the three single Subway tickets that also ended up being printed off for me!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Take some time out from the internet – ditch the desktop, turn away from the tablet, ignore your iPhone and rest the router. Why? Queen Street Update 37 is here!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

From NetworkRailGQS Twitter today:


No viewing panels so far

EDIT: Competition is hotting up:
https://twitter.com/networkrailgqs/status/1145733017631121409?s=12

(Being a NetworkRailEGIP video showing platform work, new entrances and other progress )

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Story in the Evening Times, not too bad for accuracy: (l o n g quote below)

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17738020.amp

THE month-long closure of two platforms marks the beginning of a new chapter at Glasgow’s Queen Street Station welcoming longer, greener electric trains.

Part of the £120m project to redevelop and expand Scotland’s third-busiest station, starting at midnight staff work around the clock for four weeks to extend another two platforms to increase capacity at Queen Street.

Before platforms two and three re-open on July 29, staff need to lay new track and connect it to the existing infrastructure on the rail network, as well as extend overhead power lines, install coping stones, rebuild sections of the platform walls and carry-out re-surfacing works.

The 26metre extensions will allow the larger Class-385 trains to use the platforms – meaning good news for passengers as longer trains and more seats will be available on journeys across Scotland.

Kevin McClelland, Network Rail route delivery director for infrastructure projects, said: “It will make it easier for more people to use the station. We’ll be able to use longer and greener trains will be able to operate them in up to eight cars, so that gives further opportunity for people to use the station.

“I’d like to think people will notice a difference on a day-to-day basis. It will all contribute to a far better commuter experience. I’m sure they will a the big benefit.

" It is unfortunate that we have to close the platforms to do the work, but it’s the only safe way to do it.

“There’s a very popular strapline that we are creating the best railway that Scotland has ever had, and I would definitely subscribe to that view."

While work is ongoing, services to Anniesland, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness will be affected, with replacement buses in some cases carrying passengers to outlying stations to carry on with their journeys.

However, bosses have decided to pause platform extension works during the busy period of August, before restarting again in September, meaning revellers heading to Edinburgh for the festivities will not be affected.

But the situation could have been much worse, had construction workers and engineers working in 2016 not thought ahead.

Much of the ground-work for the extensions over the coming four weeks has already been done, with industrial strength polystyrene blocks holding the excavation in place since 2016.

Instead of as many as 36 weeks of closed platforms and chaos in the station, it could now be as few as eight weeks.

Tommy McPake, programme manager for Network Rail, said: "We would have been starting from scratch. As it happens we pre-empted that and used the time we had during the tunnel blockade to stop this work having to take place at a later date.

"It would be three to four times more what we are seeing now, and on platforms four and five we have done the same. In terms of putting passengers first, that is exactly what we should be doing.

“For mass transit of people it will be a lot better. We are getting more carriages on the trains so it will certainly benefit the festival.

"Hopefully people will start to notice the trains are less busy and they’ve got more space on them.

While this work begins over the weekend, the redevelopment of the exterior and the transformation of the station's concourse continues to come on leaps and bounds.

The skeleton of what will become the new Queen Street frontage is now in place, with passers-by and those in George Square now getting an increasingly clear picture of how the station will look.

Staff working on site, some of whom have remained since the beginning of the project, say the project has a historic feel, with the city at its heart.

Everyone though, can agree that it is a massive improvement on the "horrible architecture" which encompassed Queen Street in the past.

Mr McClelland added: "What you see is the very dramatic frontage which will form the access points to the station, very much bringing it out into the square and onto West George Street, somewhere where it didn’t have a presence in the past. It is making a huge difference to its presence within the city.

"I’ve worked in a number of projects in the 14 years I have been with the railway, and probably this is the most iconic.

"We are creating the best station that Queen Street has ever been, we are all very proud of the legacy we are going to leave the Scottish public."

 

[gingertom]

does anyone know if 8-car operation on the E&G will start once platforms 2&3 are done or will they wait until 4&5 are done too? 8-car sets operating during the Edinburgh festival would be a major plus.

 

[gsnedders]

does anyone know if 8-car operation on the E&G will start once platforms 2&3 are done or will they wait until 4&5 are done too? 8-car sets operating during the Edinburgh festival would be a major plus.

I believe the plan is once 2&3 are done (as then you have a choice of three platforms for 8-car trains).

 

[gingertom]

I believe the plan is once 2&3 are done (as then you have a choice of three platforms for 8-car trains).

that can't be right, it's too sensible

 

[DuncanS]

A month of starting and terminating the Edinburgh (via Cumbrnauld) ghost train at Springburn - just what the service needs!

 

[Highlandspring]

It’s handy if you work in Springburn though...

 

[47271]

My main interest, the impact on Aberdeen and Inverness trains, just seems to be slight tweaks forward and back (eg 1809 to Inverness becomes 1806) but can I double check that I'm not missing anything that might catch me out?

 

[alangla]

My main interest, the impact on Aberdeen and Inverness trains, just seems to be slight tweaks forward and back (eg 1809 to Inverness becomes 1806) but can I double check that I'm not missing anything that might catch me out?

There’s a couple that terminate at/start at Stirling, all listed on Scotrail’s website

 

[47271]

There’s a couple that terminate at/start at Stirling, all listed on Scotrail’s website

Great thanks, I'll have a look.

 

[Grinner]

Here's the link to the ScotRail info about timetable changes: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/de..._queen_street_platforms_30jun-_28jul_2019.pdf

In summary, for the period Sunday 30 June until Sunday 28 July:

Mondays to Saturdays
• Glasgow Queen Street to Anniesland will be an hourly service between Anniesland and Ashfield Only.
• Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh via Cumbernauld will start and end at Springburn. Onward train connection available from Springburn to Glasgow.
• The 09:42 Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street will terminate at Stirling.
• The 12:08 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness will start at Stirling.

Sundays
• Glasgow Queen Street to Anniesland will operate between Anniesland and Ashfield Only except for July 07th And July 28th when normal service will operate.
• Glasgow Queen Street to Cumbernauld will operate normally except for July 07th & 28th when this service will be bus replaced due Engineering Works at Robroyston.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Just passing through this morning and noticed the door with the Perspex window has been recycled from the work on the buffer stops so here’s the view at Platform 2/3 today:

 

[GrimShady]

Will the OHLE be extended to the end of Platforms 2&3?

 

[InOban]

I'm sure that the published description of the work includes that. Why wouldn't it? Otherwise no train with the pantograph in the leading vehicle could use the extended platforms.

 

[GrimShady]

I'm sure that the published description of the work includes that. Why wouldn't it? Otherwise no train with the pantograph in the leading vehicle could use the extended platforms.

Exactly.

 

[edwin_m]

You might get away with it if the station is only used by EMUs, as the pantograph can be no closer than the front of the second vehicle. However, the existing "goalposts" where the OLE terminates look to be too close to the edge of the platform for them to remain in use when it becomes possible to board/alight at that part of the platform. So I expect they will be moved or replaced by new ones at the new buffer stop position with the OLE extended accordingly.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I’m pretty sure I remember that man from the the Outer Hebrides Broadcasting Corporation (as someone described him on the skyscrapercity forum ) telling us in one of his updates that bases for new OHLE terminal posts were being constructed along with the new buffer stops.

Perhaps if he remembers the source of the information he’ll share it with us.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I’ve had a word with my seagull-eyed associate and he reminded me of this from Network Rail:
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/new-platforms-on-track-for-glasgow-queen-street

Paragraph 7 reads:

Platforms two and three will be out of use throughout July while engineers complete the connection to the platform extensions and extend overhead lines, install coping stones, rebuild sections of platform wall and carry-out surfacing works.

Still looking for the source re the construction of mast bases.

 

[GrimShady]

Didn't the initial plans for the retail development include a mezz deck?

I really hope they come up with something creative for the retail side.

 

[takno]

Didn't the initial plans for the retail development include a mezz deck?

I really hope they come up with something creative for the retail side.

There's a bunch of retail going in to the car park site IIRC. Doubt any of it will be creative - I'd settle for a bar and getting the Burger King back. Sadly it's more likely to be a Leon and a Costa

 

[PaxVobiscum]

A few photos from today:
EDIT: Now with transitions that are slightly less annoying

 

[InOban]

The latest pic tweeted by Network Rail GQS shows the uprights for the extended OHLE.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

If it’s the pic below (screenshot from Twitter - sorry can’t find out how to link the original) I can’t see that. I can only see the pre-existing terminal masts as per the 2nd screenshot from the week before work started.