Progress at Cambridge and Northampton

[xydancer]

The Northampton Chronicle and Echo report that the new Northampton station building will open to passengers on 6 October.

London Midland have confirmed the date that passengers will start using the train station in Northampton, as it nears completion.

Network Rail,which owns the building, will hand it over to the train company in the next week.

And London Midland said, at a meeting at the Guildhall this morning, that the date passengers will be able to use it for the first time will be Monday, October 6.

Terry Oliver, London Midland’s head of the West Coast Service, said: “We wanted it open this month, but they are finishing the final bits and on September 18 there will be a final snagging review

“So October 6 is the aspirational date for the ‘soft launch’.

“There’s a slight chance the shop units may not be filled by that point, but that’s when passengers can start using it.”

He added: “It’s a fantastic facility and a drastic improvement on what’s there today.”

The multi-storey station building, with a coffee shop, booking office and all-new concourses, is the first stage of the plan for the site.

After that a car park will be built where the current station stands now, probably with a bridge access to the booking office upstairs.

Councillor David Mackintosh, the Northampton Borough Council leader, said: “We expect the demolition of the old station to be complete by February then phase 2 to start straight away after that.”

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I take it the pointless name change has vanished?

 

[xydancer]

I agree it's utterly pointless - and contrary to what the council says, people don't generally call it 'Castle Station' these days.

The bad news is that - as far as I know - the idea is still swirling around. Council documents do now make a point of referring to it as 'Northampton Castle Station'.

 

[The Planner]

They have probably gone cold on it after NR and TOCs said "who is paying for it and what benefit is there for us?"

 

[Trog]

The track relay gangs based at Northampton in BR days always called it Castle Station.

 

[xydancer]

Well, it didn't take long for that to change!

The Chronicle & Echo report today that opening has been put back a month.

‘Unforseen contractual issues’ have delayed the opening of Northampton’s new railway station until November, a spokesperson for Network Rail confirmed this week.

A fortnight ago train operators London Midland announced the station would be open to passengers on October 6.

However this week Network Rail revealed passengers would have to wait a little longer to use the multi-million pound new facility.

A spokersman said: “Network Rail apologises for the delay to the new Northampton station. We thank passengers for their patience.

“Some unforeseen contractual issues have come up around access to the new station’s power supply. Our legal team are working as hard as they can to sort these out so the new station can be operational as soon as possible.

“We hope to have the new station up and running for passengers in November.”

Earlier in September the design of the new building came under fire because many thought the front stairwell was too steep. However there will be a lift to the rear of the building.

A ‘grand opening’ is still planned for February.

Original C&E page here.