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Monday 7 Sep 2009

CARLISLE STATION ‘CARBUNCLE’ GOES IN £500,000 REVAMP

Region & Route:

Work starts today on removing the refreshment room that has stood like a carbuncle on platform 4 at Carlisle station for over 30 years. The rectangular building is being demolished as the start of Network Rail's £500,000 refurbishment funded by the Department for Transport’s national stations improvement programme.

Network Rail’s route director Jo Kaye explained what lies behind the scheme: “The buffet was built in the 1970s, and it is totally out of character with the listed status of the rest of the station. It also hides platforms five and six which are where the Tyne Valley and Settle – Carlisle services start.

“Removing it will allow us to create a new seating area where passengers can wait for their trains to Newcastle and Leeds. It will include a low wall topped with glazed screens to protect them from the wind.”

Above the new seating area will be a rectangular hoarding fixed across the metal gantry that supports the overhead power lines. The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line (FoSCL) are contributing £10,000 to mark this as the northern gateway to the line, and the hoarding will describe the line and what can be seen on the journey.

FoSCL chairman Mark Rand said: “The improvements at Carlisle station are very good news indeed for the Settle-Carlisle line especially. We are working with Network Rail to achieve a spectacular gateway at the northern end of the S&C - one of the world's great railway journeys. We are contributing to the scheme financially and with design ideas.

“All of the Settle-Carlisle stations are beautifully restored and maintained thanks to partnership working between volunteers, Network Rail and the train operators. The Carlisle scheme will be the icing on the cake and is particularly welcome in this, the twentieth year since the Settle-Carlisle Line was saved from closure."

Close to the new seating area is the main waiting room – but it is not immediately obvious. Therefore, the station revamp includes plans to improve the signs, a new doorway with a highlighted paving area and planters to draw attention to it, and new lighting.

There will also be a drinks vending machine.

Inside the waiting room, there are beautiful wooden beams supporting the roof – but the view is spoiled by a galvanised metal framework supporting an emergency lighting system. This is to be removed and the emergency lighting relocated so the ceiling can be seen in its full glory.

At the northern end of platform four, the red metal hoops that surround the existing waiting area and ‘edge’ the platform are to be completely removed. The waiting area will have glazed screens to match those at the southern end of the platform and a colour contrasting paving will denote the platform.

The structure incorporating the train departure screen and other information will be replaced by a modern, slimline oval stainless steel feature.

All the refurbishment work is due for completion by the summer next year.