Glasgow Queen Street refurbishment and remodelling

[overthewater]

Sainbsurys is right next door to the station.

 

[NotATrainspott]

Sainbsurys is right next door to the station.

It's in the building being demolished to make way for the new concourse, so it's not going to be particularly useful.

There's a small newsagent across the taxi rank from Sainsbury's. Buchanan Street and its array of various retailers is a few dozen metres away as well, so it's not going to be the end of the world.

 

[marks87]

There's another Sainsbury's 5 minute's walk away on Bath Street.

But I'd be surprised if a little space wasn't found for a basic WH Smith - papers, snacks and a chiller.

 

[PHILIPE]

Wetherspoons at George Square Entrance. The Camperdown

 

[cf111]

There's another Sainsbury's 5 minute's walk away on Bath Street.

But I'd be surprised if a little space wasn't found for a basic WH Smith - papers, snacks and a chiller.

The wee one on the way to the low-level platforms might stay open.

 

[Mikey1984]

Couple of questions:
Am I right in thinking the gantrys are going in but not wires for electrification?

How does the services diverted through QS low level affect existing services. Also how does it work when they can't terminate at those platforms?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Couple of questions:
Am I right in thinking the gantrys are going in but not wires for electrification?

I don't know if they're going to do everything between trainshed and the tunnel mouth at the same time as the closure, but there should be some work with the ROC to wire conversion elements, tensioners etc.

The platforms themselves are planned to be wired after the platform alterations occur, so there will be access available for further wiring works, putting in portals, TTCs etc would depend on whether there are signal sighting issues to resolve first.

 

[jopsuk]

It would make no sense to put the wires up before the platforms are altered and lengthened.

And it isn't all being done at once as the station concourse will almost certainly be an important access route for the works throughout the blockade. It would be a bit awkward if that was blocked by demolition and building works- not to mention that part will still be access to the low level

 

[Carntyne]

Platforms are being altered & lengthened at the same time.

 

[marks87]

It would make no sense to put the wires up before the platforms are altered and lengthened.

And it isn't all being done at once as the station concourse will almost certainly be an important access route for the works throughout the blockade. It would be a bit awkward if that was blocked by demolition and building works- not to mention that part will still be access to the low level

Low Level is accessed away from the main concourse via entrances on Dundas Street and North Hanover Street. The only issue is the lifts (accessed from P7).

 

[PaxVobiscum]

For those of use who didn't realise it was possible to see right up the tunnel at Queen Street High level from the station:
https://www.railscot.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=54056

 

[londonboi198o5]

Just had a little look at the planned blockade on Glasgow queen street high level planned closure website

Seems quite a few trains are going to br diverted to Glasgow central. Having used Glasgow central in peak it is a very very busy station with allot of trains coming in and out constantly. It is rather interesting to see how they plan to fit the extra services in to the already busy Glasgow central station with paths and trains coming along the lines via Cumbernauld.

Also of interest is the Oban fort William and mallaig services will be starting and terminating on the through low level platforms I imagine this will cause a few delays to the current services and extra services that will go through the low level platforms due to the passengers boarding and leaving these services. Also how do they plan to reverse the trains out of the low level as there is no cross over there will the trains run ecs from sprinburn into the platforms ????

Be interesting to see how it all goes to plan hope some people on here can take some nice pictures of the diversions and the class 170 at Glasgow central

 

[Dryce]

Also how do they plan to reverse the trains out of the low level as there is no cross over there will the trains run ecs from sprinburn into the platforms ????

AIUI they will arrive from Oban/Fort William via Anniesland and depart via Springburn.

ECS movements are in the same direction - arriving from Eastfield or Corkerhill via Anniesland for outbound services and departing via Springburn after inbound services.

They seem to be avoiding reversals at GLQ LL and basically using Cowlairs -Anniesland - GLQ LL - Springburn - Cowlairs as a large loop - with some services such as those to/from Alloa using it clockwise and Edinburgh via Falkirk High and WHL services using it anti-clockwise.

 

[scotraildriver]

AIUI they will arrive from Oban/Fort William via Anniesland and depart via Springburn.

ECS movements are in the same direction - arriving from Eastfield or Corkerhill via Anniesland for outbound services and departing via Springburn after inbound services.

They seem to be avoiding reversals at GLQ LL and basically using Cowlairs -Anniesland - GLQ LL - Springburn - Cowlairs as a large loop - with some services such as those to/from Alloa using it clockwise and Edinburgh via Falkirk High and WHL services using it anti-clockwise.

This is correct apart from the 05.20 Qn St/Oban which will depart via Anniesland ahead of the sleeper. There is no facility to reverse at Queen St LL.

 

[Markos72]

We were given a handout detailing the works taking place,which include new signals and points in the tunnel and station area,as well as the installation of new axle counters( a type myself and none of my colleagues have yet been trained on.)
Should be fun with the first axle counter failure-if you haven't been trained on it you can't work on it...

 

[Carntyne]

5 days to go until the tunnel closes. Not long now.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

5 days to go until the tunnel closes. Not long now.

I see they have put up a tent in the back garden
https://www.railscot.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=54465

 

[route:oxford]

They seem to be avoiding reversals at GLQ LL and basically using Cowlairs -Anniesland - GLQ LL - Springburn - Cowlairs as a large loop - with some services such as those to/from Alloa using it clockwise and Edinburgh via Falkirk High and WHL services using it anti-clockwise.

Got to wonder, if that had been considered in the olden days at the time of Beeching, whether Glasgow Queen Street upper could have been closed and sold off as a hotel or car park with all services looping around a four-platform lower.

(Is a reversal required for Aberdeen services to reach Central?)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Got to wonder, if that had been considered in the olden days at the time of Beeching, whether Glasgow Queen Street upper could have been closed and sold off as a hotel or car park with all services looping around a four-platform lower.

(Is a reversal required for Aberdeen services to reach Central?)

No, straight in via Cumbernauld, Coatbridge Central, Carmyle and Rutherglen.
Single track lead to reach the Carmyle line though, which doesn't help.

Presumably all the underground steam/diesel fumes prevented a QSt HL closure in the 1960s, unlike at Buchanan St, St Enoch and Princes St.
Funny how "LMS" stations/routes bore the brunt of those closures...

 

[deltic08]

Got to wonder, if that had been considered in the olden days at the time of Beeching, whether Glasgow Queen Street upper could have been closed and sold off as a hotel or car park with all services looping around a four-platform lower.

(Is a reversal required for Aberdeen services to reach Central?)

Immediately post WW2 plans were made for a combined station between Buchanan St and Queen St stations whilst the land was all railway owned. Seven platforms at Queen St will never be enough for growth over the next ten years. Another twin track bore is required on the east side of the current one and more platforms on the car park.

Big mistake to close Buchanan St and sell the huge amount of railway owned land.

 

[najaB]

Big mistake to close Buchanan St and sell the huge amount of railway owned land.

Viewed in hindsight, yes. But probably was the best decision with what was known at the time.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I had a wee gander at Cowlairs for myself, and for all we are being told that the Cowlairs Tunnel works are separate from EGIP there are a number of overlaps becoming evident apart from any EGIP work being undertaken in the station itself.

During the period of the closure it seems there are two overbridges for the chop downhill from Cowlairs South junction - OB 123 (Fountainwells footpath which used to provide access to the Shighthill (sorry, Freudian slip ) flats from Keppochhill Road) and OB 121 (Gourlay Street). A depot has been established at the side of the line where one of the high flats used to be and this will provide at grade access to the line and the tunnel from the top end.

The Fountainwells bridge will be replaced eventually according to the notice (photo below) but the Gourlay Street one will be replaced by a pipe bridge according to www.egip.info:

At Gourlay Street we propose to remove the existing bridge (OB 121) deck and replace with a pipe bridge to continue to carry the services/utilities across the railway. Work is scheduled to start in April 2016 for four months.

There's a picture of the depot already on the Railscot news section.

 

[route:oxford]

Immediately post WW2 plans were made for a combined station between Buchanan St and Queen St stations whilst the land was all railway owned. Seven platforms at Queen St will never be enough for growth over the next ten years. Another twin track bore is required on the east side of the current one and more platforms on the car park.

Big mistake to close Buchanan St and sell the huge amount of railway owned land.

Before and what should have happened after.

 

[jopsuk]

Interesting maps! If those plans had come to fruition the move to DMUs would I guess have seen the carriage sheds and turntable removed for redevelopment and the tunnel restored

 

[deltic08]

Amazing. If only. First time I have seen these maps but have heard about the proposal for some time. Thank you.

 

[edwin_m]

Interchange between the combined station and the low level would have been a rather long walk or a slightly shorter walk and one stop on the Subway.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Someone's collected the TVMs at Queen Street already.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

...and bad news - the pub is now shut

...but here's the new beer tent!

 

[gsnedders]

The ticket barriers at the North Hannover Street entrance to Low-Level were gone yesterday evening, with a human-barrier in place instead.

 

[ld0595]

Well that's it closed now! We'll see what tomorrow and more importantly, Monday brings.