Glasgow Queen Street refurbishment and remodelling

[Rick1984]

My understanding was correct - here’s the back view (the single display unit fitted so far is at the top, about 1/3 of the way along from the left):
View attachment 72875

Looks like a retro nod to the Low Level with all that gold cladding!

 

[Carntyne]

I'm starting to become concerned that despite all this work we're not actually going to see a huge increase in circulating space on the concourse side of the gates. I know that things are very tight at the moment but it just seems like we're still going to have a very crowded station. If they're going to persist with the idea of the dateline then they need to change their policy for announcing platforms as it seems like this will be one of the few ways of dealing with what I fear will be inadequate circulating space.

From what I hear it's doubling in size.

 

[alangla]

To give the cleaners a clear, quick run through every train. Trying to clean a train while passengers are getting on is nigh on impossible. Hitachi fitters also doing checks during turnaround and need access to areas of the train.

Do they split 385 rakes in service at GLQ? I remember there used to be an arrival from Edinburgh that was booked 6x170 due to arrive about 1825 but invariably late, that had to come in, unload, split, reload (in reality the split was during loading IIRC, doors closed then reopened) then leave at 1830 to Edinburgh and 1840 to Aberdeen. The regulars all knew about it so waited on the platform for it arriving even though it wasn’t on the board until it was in & unloading. The Aberdeen portion appeared on the board only when the Edinburgh had left

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Here’s a photo from yesterday showing the new (left) and the present (right) departure boards. (Another clue is that the ones which are lit up are the ones in use ).



Also a screenshot from the NetworkRailGQS Twitter video referred to above – this video was evidently taken before any of the new departure board panels were fitted, but it might give a better idea of the height they have been mounted. View is from near the top of the ramp (i.e. in the closed off area).

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Do they split 385 rakes in service at GLQ? I remember there used to be an arrival from Edinburgh that was booked 6x170 due to arrive about 1825 but invariably late, that had to come in, unload, split, reload (in reality the split was during loading IIRC, doors closed then reopened) then leave at 1830 to Edinburgh and 1840 to Aberdeen. The regulars all knew about it so waited on the platform for it arriving even though it wasn’t on the board until it was in & unloading. The Aberdeen portion appeared on the board only when the Edinburgh had left

I doubt that there will be a 385 service to Aberdeen at present. The neutral section is a bit too long.

More seriously, I have not seen a 385 split at GLQ though that doesn’t mean it can’t be happening.

 

[takno]

Do they split 385 rakes in service at GLQ? I remember there used to be an arrival from Edinburgh that was booked 6x170 due to arrive about 1825 but invariably late, that had to come in, unload, split, reload (in reality the split was during loading IIRC, doors closed then reopened) then leave at 1830 to Edinburgh and 1840 to Aberdeen. The regulars all knew about it so waited on the platform for it arriving even though it wasn’t on the board until it was in & unloading. The Aberdeen portion appeared on the board only when the Edinburgh had left

Not sure they're splitting them at all are they? I certainly haven't been on one that wasn't a double since they came in, although that might have changed now that they are 8 instead of 7

 

[47271]

Do they split 385 rakes in service at GLQ? I remember there used to be an arrival from Edinburgh that was booked 6x170 due to arrive about 1825 but invariably late, that had to come in, unload, split, reload (in reality the split was during loading IIRC, doors closed then reopened) then leave at 1830 to Edinburgh and 1840 to Aberdeen. The regulars all knew about it so waited on the platform for it arriving even though it wasn’t on the board until it was in & unloading. The Aberdeen portion appeared on the board only when the Edinburgh had left

And the 1830 to Edinburgh was the first one that cheap tickets were valid on, so was absolutely packed as well as the splitting farce. It used to be a train to avoid if at all possible. The 1800 always had six but was full price - so you could generally get a table of four all to yourself.

Thank God for electrification.

 

[scotraildriver]

There are a few splits later in the evening and half the train goes to the depot.

 

[scotraildriver]

The only ones that split are the peak 6 car Alloa/Dunblane which split on return to Queen St and one set goes to Eastfield. One other splits at Stirling. All E& G services run 8 car all day. The rather protracted splitting procedure for 385s pretty much precludes it anyway.

 

[Speed43125]

The only ones that split are the peak 6 car Alloa/Dunblane which split on return to Queen St and one set goes to Eastfield. One other splits at Stirling. All E& G services run 8 car all day. The rather protracted splitting procedure for 385s pretty much precludes it anyway.

The Stirling split is always a mess, Stirling is small and provincial enough and has few enough splits for no-one to know what's happening, add to that train displays that say 'Alloa' on all 6 carriages and a rather complex splitting procedure, it's common for even the dunblane train (the rear 3-coaches) to be late departing.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Update 46 in post production; fairly tedious but will have some night time views.

Meanwhile this article on the visibility of the train shed roof is worth a read. Some interesting history of the station there as background before the question of the roof is addressed. Here’s a short extract:

The train shed’s relationship to Glasgow has always been accidental: its position was determined by the spatial constraints and topography of its site not the desire to create a formal relationship to the city grid. Nor was the gable designed to be seen – it lacks the decoration typical of its era. (Compare it to St Enoch Station’s east gable, demolished in the 1970s. Even though it looked towards the approaching tracks it was perhaps the most beautifully engineered window Glasgow ever had: a fanlight supported by radiating tensioned cables and adorned by a filigree of ironwork.) Cities are, however, full of happy accidental relationships between buildings that enrich the urban experience. BDP’s early studies sought to understand what was desirable and what was possible.

 

[youngac]

The new customer info screens at Queen Street are now live.

 

[route101]

The new customer info screens at Queen Street are now live.

Are they in a different format?

 

[swt_passenger]

Are they in a different format?

Bigger, higher up, facing the street. But still the same technology looking at the first photo in post 1084? Turned out to be white LCD? rather than orange LED...

 

[385001]

Image courtesy of Forte Engineering Ltd on Twitter.

Looks much better with the white text. According to @NetworkRailGQS there are 12 screens replacing the previous 8 and using 30% less power. And the old ones to be removed later this week.

https://twitter.com/MWiszcz/status/1224795609313546241?s=20

There's a short video on @NetworkRailGQS as well. Unfortunately, I can't imbed it.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1224764460604280834

 

[takno]

Image courtesy of Forte Engineering Ltd on Twitter.

Looks much better with the white text. According to @NetworkRailGQS there are 12 screens replacing the previous 8 and using 30% less power. And the old ones to be removed later this week.

https://twitter.com/MWiszcz/status/1224795609313546241?s=20

There's a short video on @NetworkRailGQS as well. Unfortunately, I can't imbed it.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1224764460604280834

I like that they have a single massive monitor telling you the time of the next train to Falkirk

 

[Scotrail314209]

Just me that thinks these look a tad *too* high up... Text also seems a little bit small.

Ideally they should've been similar size of the old ones.

 

[InOban]

I must admit that I am impressed by the speed at which they were brought into operation after delivery and installation.

 

[takno]

Just me that thinks these look a tad *too* high up... Text also seems a little bit small.

Ideally they should've been similar size of the old ones.

They're much bigger than the old ones

 

[Altnabreac]

Having just been through Queen St this morning they work well when seen “in the flesh”. I’d thought from images here you’d be craning your neck to see but that’s not the feeling I got on the ground this morning.

 

[edwin_m]

Having just been through Queen St this morning they work well when seen “in the flesh”. I’d thought from images here you’d be craning your neck to see but that’s not the feeling I got on the ground this morning.

If you were on the ground you could just look up without craning your neck.

 

[snookertam]

It is a bit high but bear in mind that only the front half of the concourse is available at the moment. Will look better when the station is open fully.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Update 46 released and totally out of date already , but fear not I have Update 47 nearly ready too. Zzzz

Update 46 was filmed at the end of January, so the new Departure Board, sorry Customer Information Screens are there but not in operation. Also since it was filmed, another section of the concourse, west of the TVMs, has been opened up and the access to Platform 8 has changed yet again. There's a few things I have held back so that #NetworkRailGQS can get their fotos out phirst, but I won't wait so long this time.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

People seem not to be having too much bother with the new screens’ height or font size, and I do like this bit:

 

[385001]

People seem not to be having too much bother with the new screens’ height or font size, and I do like this bit:

View attachment 73502

Thanks for the image. I like the Express screen too. Nice and clear for the flagship service.

 

[385001]

Update 46 released and totally out of date already , but fear not I have Update 47 nearly ready too. Zzzz

Update 46 was filmed at the end of January, so the new Departure Board, sorry Customer Information Screens are there but not in operation. Also since it was filmed, another section of the concourse, west of the TVMs, has been opened up and the access to Platform 8 has changed yet again. There's a few things I have held back so that #NetworkRailGQS can get their fotos out phirst, but I won't wait so long this time.

Another excellent update @PaxVobiscum. Looking forward to seeing update 47.

 

[hwl]

People seem not to be having too much bother with the new screens’ height or font size, and I do like this bit:

View attachment 73502

Surprising how few copies of the Gatwick Express departure board methodology have been made given how well it works for limited stop expresses. At Victoria since the 80s, originally in Solari flapper board format for 2 decades before moving to LED for the last 2. It ideally needs a different colour vinyl surround for the board to draw the eye so it can easily be identified and read on the move.

 

[Highland37]

I do think the screens are slightly too high, about about 2 metres maybe, and don't naturally draw the eye. Mind you, the new station will be a vast improvement on the old bit.

 

[och aye]

I'll reserve judgement if the screens are too high when the concourse is fully opened.

Thanks for the continued updates @PaxVobiscum

 

[youngac]

Passed through the station today. I think the new screens are an improvement, though they contrast heavily with the screens at the platform ends which still have orange writing.