Inverness Station redevelopment

[InOban]

I know that Abellio and network rail Scotland are in an alliance, but wouldn't it be better to ask TS, who will fund the project, and NR who will deliver it? Scotrail's involvement will be as a consultee on the redesign, and in managing the inevitable disruption.

No new capital expenditure anywhere can be committed until Javid produces a UK budget early in the New Year.

 

[snookertam]

I know that Abellio and network rail Scotland are in an alliance, but wouldn't it be better to ask TS, who will fund the project, and NR who will deliver it? Scotrail's involvement will be as a consultee on the redesign, and in managing the inevitable disruption.

No new capital expenditure anywhere can be committed until Javid produces a UK budget early in the New Year.

No all capital expenditure is not on hold until the UK government produce a budget. Transport Scotland have their own budget provided by the Scottish Government.

 

[InOban]

AIUI, the Scottish government has little or no borrowing powers. The next UK budget will grant capital expenditure to the Scottish government on the basis of the Barnet formula. That's for new projects. Those already in progress or committed are funded out of previous allocations.

 

[Highland37]

Presumably the budget was already agreed though given that the announcement of the redevelopment was over two years ago now.

 

[Atlantic loco]

The Scottish Government does have borrowing powers. A wee search of the web site will yield more information.

 

[XC90]

Will they bother putting money in now TS say they only have 2 yrs?

 

[XC90]

..........

 

[Highland37]

It's public money is it not? The Dutch state is not investing in Inverness Station.

 

[mullac30]

It seems that work has finally started at the station:
https://twitter.com/dmacphers1/status/1223568704019013632?s=20
Looks like the roof is the first job on the list.

 

[Highland37]

I hope this is the start of something good. The information boards went away about a year ago so I presumed it was cancelled.

 

[och aye]

Some positive news regarding the redevelopment of the station site.

Transport hub for Inverness back on track as sale of city centre site is sealed

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk...as-sale-of-city-centre-site-is-sealed-194660/

An ambitious plan to revolutionise transport in Inverness has taken a giant step forward.

As exclusively revealed by the Inverness Courier three months ago, Network Rail has now purchased the former Royal Mail sorting office in the city's Strothers Lane.

It gives the green light to a development which will transform the Highland capital by creating a state-of-the art transport hub at its heart.

The deal for an undisclosed fee was finally sealed last week and news of the purchase has been roundly welcomed by business leaders across the city.

See today's Inverness Courier for more on this story.

 

[Gonzoiku]

Some positive news regarding the redevelopment of the station site.

Well, yes but. I think this is the final nail in the coffin of the proposals from two years ago, as the Royal Mail site gives access to a much wider scope for integration of rail and bus services - the existing plan is explicitly only for the station buildings. Indeed, if you look closely at the pdf to which Highland37 posted a link two years ago (page 3 attached, with Royal Mail site now marked in yellow) , you will see that the study excluded both the Royal Mail site and the Farraline Park bus station (and also excluded the train shed, so the current work on the roof is NOT the start of works). And it also stated as its focus "3rd Party Funding to Maximise Customer & Economic Impact Partnership working approach".

This can only mean a much bigger project, with many more parties involved.

GZ

 

[Highland37]

Good news. Has the TK Maxx building been bought also?

 

[theironroad]

Good news. Has the TK Maxx building been bought also?

I was wondering that too as would be an odd shaped railway development.

Tbf, I can't see anything much happening for long time yet in light of the current situation.

 

[haggishunter]

Good news. Has the TK Maxx building been bought also?

No, but the Courier suggests discussions are on going over it.

 

[mullac30]

According to an update to the Transport Hub project on the HITRANS website, Network Rail has now completed their land acquisitions and now owns most of the land immediately surrounding the station, including:

• Royal Mail sorting office and Car Park
• TX Maxx/Sports Direct
• TK Maxx Car Park
• Highland Rail House (the north side of Station Square)

Aside from that, there isn't much more solid info on what Network Rail intend to do with the land.

However there is a pretty interesting image of a study into an upgrade of the station from 2015. It depicts a 9 platform station with 3 platforms being able to accommodate 9 to 12 car trains, 2 being able to accommodate 6 cars, and 3 brand new through platforms. The through platforms connect to the FNL, HML and Aberdeen lines, and can accommodate trains from 6 to 8 cars long. Perhaps a bit ambitious, but it looks amazing.

 

[railjock]

According to an update to the Transport Hub project on the HITRANS website, Network Rail has now completed their land acquisitions and now owns most of the land immediately surrounding the station, including:

• Royal Mail sorting office and Car Park
• TX Maxx/Sports Direct
• TK Maxx Car Park
• Highland Rail House (the north side of Station Square)

Aside from that, there isn't much more solid info on what Network Rail intend to do with the land.

However there is a pretty interesting image of a study into an upgrade of the station from 2015. It depicts a 9 platform station with 3 platforms being able to accommodate 9 to 12 car trains, 2 being able to accommodate 6 cars, and 3 brand new through platforms. The through platforms connect to the FNL, HML and Aberdeen lines, and can accommodate trains from 6 to 8 cars long. Perhaps a bit ambitious, but it looks amazing.
View attachment 77727

Why are 9 platforms needed?

 

[BRX]

Why are 9 platforms needed?

If it's a feasibility study, possibly it is looking at the maximum number that could realistically be provided.

An expansion in capacity is not something to complain about though.

 

[Gonzoiku]

View attachment 77727

That plan would appear to have been overtaken by the significant land purchases on the NW side of the site (the top left quadrant of the plan quoted above), but even so, it represents a remarkable breadth of vision for the site as it was before this year.

And Lochgorm works to become a Highland Transport Museum?

GZ

 

[DynamicSpirit]

However there is a pretty interesting image of a study into an upgrade of the station from 2015. It depicts a 9 platform station with 3 platforms being able to accommodate 9 to 12 car trains, 2 being able to accommodate 6 cars, and 3 brand new through platforms. The through platforms connect to the FNL, HML and Aberdeen lines, and can accommodate trains from 6 to 8 cars long. Perhaps a bit ambitious, but it looks amazing.

If I've understood that plan correctly (and accepting that it may be out of date), it seems to show all Far North/Kyle of Lochalsh trains routed to new platforms that allow for direct through services to Perth/Aberdeen, but at a cost of quite a distance to walk for people changing trains and needing to get to/from the main platforms. What would be the rationale for that? Are there plans to provide many through services?

 

[NotATrainspott]

If I've understood that plan correctly (and accepting that it may be out of date), it seems to show all Far North/Kyle of Lochalsh trains routed to new platforms that allow for direct through services to Perth/Aberdeen, but at a cost of quite a distance to walk for people changing trains and needing to get to/from the main platforms. What would be the rationale for that? Are there plans to provide many through services?

I think some sort of commuter-ish service is desired for the region in the long term. The 2043 Route Study had 2tph to Dingwall, which you'd presumably want to send out towards Aberdeen or Perth to some sensible terminus.

Also, if the station is developed like this, then a new entrance and station facilities could be located up there so that it'd be a reasonable distance to either set of platforms.

 

[37424]

I think some sort of commuter-ish service is desired for the region in the long term. The 2043 Route Study had 2tph to Dingwall, which you'd presumably want to send out towards Aberdeen or Perth to some sensible terminus.

Also, if the station is developed like this, then a new entrance and station facilities could be located up there so that it'd be a reasonable distance to either set of platforms.

Indeed plus it would avoid the shunt in and out of the current platforms to get to the depot.

 

[InOban]

I would hope that there would be a new entrance to the north to give access to the Longman trading estate, which is also the route into the city from the Kessock bridge.

 

[Gonzoiku]

I would hope that there would be a new entrance to the north to give access to the Longman trading estate, which is also the route into the city from the Kessock bridge.

Quite so, InOban. The plan from 2015 shows a new entrance adjoining the new platforms, across the end of the existing FNL platforms, but the subsequent land acquisitions provide much more space for (perhaps) a larger bus station closer to the extended railway station. In addition, the two large buildings to the north of the FNL (just visible on the top edge of the plan posted) have been demolished, so there is scope for something much more adventurous, and appropriate, than the exsiting constrained Station Square on Academy Street.

GZ

 

[BRX]

Note that the new car park in that plan takes up about the same space as the bus station. The car park has space for 122 cars. Something like the capacity of two or three buses, which could drop off/collect that number of people within about 15 mins, and those cars would just sit there as dead space most of the day.

Anyway, I do hope that any redevelopments include some serious improvement and integration of the bus station.

 

[Gonzoiku]

Note that the new car park in that plan takes up about the same space as the bus station. The car park has space for 122 cars. Something like the capacity of two or three buses, which could drop off/collect that number of people within about 15 mins, and those cars would just sit there as dead space most of the day.

Anyway, I do hope that any redevelopments include some serious improvement and integration of the bus station.

I share your hopes, but you might not have realised the "new car park" that you refer to is not, in fact, "new" at all, it's already there - take a peek at a Google satellite view - and that the newly acquired land now includes the white space marked "Car Park" at the top of the plan posted above as well as the L-shaped building just across the road from it.

There is therefore a huge opportunity to provide a much better bus station in terms of space for buses, facilities for bus passengers (largely absent at present), and better integration with both trains and cars. The existing bus station provides stances for 10-12 buses, but with significant congestion at times, and scant provision for waiting passengers. Access is convoluted for both buese and passengers, and the bus station impedes pedestrian access between the railway station/Rose Street car park/Academy Street/Eastgate. Let's hope the clear opportunity for overall improvement is taken.

GZ

 

[mullac30]

Note that the new car park in that plan takes up about the same space as the bus station. The car park has space for 122 cars. Something like the capacity of two or three buses, which could drop off/collect that number of people within about 15 mins, and those cars would just sit there as dead space most of the day.

Anyway, I do hope that any redevelopments include some serious improvement and integration of the bus station.

The 2015 study was only for an expanded and upgraded station, not a "Transport Hub" like what is being proposed now. An integrated bus station would have been out of the scope of the study, unlike now. It would now be very easily achievable to have both a station car park and a integrated bus station considering that Network Rail now own considerably more land than the 2015 plan envisioned.

 

[Gonzoiku]

The 2015 study was only for an expanded and upgraded station, not a "Transport Hub" like what is being proposed now. An integrated bus station would have been out of the scope of the study, unlike now. It would now be very easily achievable to have both a station car park and a integrated bus station considering that Network Rail now own considerably more land than the 2015 plan envisioned.

I completely agree!

GZ

 

[BRX]

Well, let's hope that if a "transport hub" does come to be, the bus station gets priority over any car parking in terms of location, and it's no longer the case that to transfer from bus to train you have to traipse uncovered across a road and car park.

 

[InOban]

As with any small town which has grown rapidly, Inverness has a legacy centre with an awkward road layout, and nearly all new employment on the fringes. Further/Higher education has also moved out. Its town centre shopping battles with malls on the outside.
Rail will struggle for commuters unless new offices are built and there are more reasons for people to need to access the central area.
BTW I was born in Inverness.