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Monday 19 Nov 2007

NEW TICKET OFFICE FOR GUIDE BRIDGE STATION

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The ticket office at Guide Bridge station has risen Phoenix-like from the ashes of its former self following a suspected arson attack in 2006. First opened in November 1841, the station now has a brand new building incorporating a ticketing facility, passenger waiting area and staff accommodation a year after approx 30% of the station was destroyed in a spectacular fire. Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s Territory Buildings Engineer oversaw the project. "The fire seems to have started in a waiting shelter on the Manchester-bound platform. It then quickly spread up the footbridge to the ticket office” Mr Cawley explained. "Within two days of the fire we had installed a temporary ticket office and opened up side access to both platforms. That meant the station was functional again, and it allowed us time to decide how best to rebuild the station. "What we now have is far superior to what it replaces. The ticket hall is friendly, welcoming, heated – something that is designed to attract passengers and encourage them to use the station." Natasha Wilding, Area Stations Manager, Northern Rail said: "While we’ve been able to provide facilities in the form of the temporary ticket office since the fire this new building is making a real difference for customers and we’ve had some great feedback from them already." Councillor Alan Whitehead, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority spokesperson for Tameside, said: "Thanks to the renovation of the booking hall, we can move on from what happened at Guide Bridge Station and look to the future. "I’d like to thank Network Rail for their efforts so far and I look forward to the completion of the project, when better access to the Manchester-bound platform will be restored. "Train stations are gateways to communities and are often people’s first impressions of an area, so I am glad we can now give a good account of ourselves at Guide Bridge." Network Rail used its in-house property works delivery team to carry out the £150,000 transformation. A feature of the new building is the King Post rafters in the roof space that replicate those nearly destroyed in the fire. No drawings exist of the rafters so Network Rail carpenters took samples from the charred remains to try and establish what type of timber had previously been used. They then took the dimensions of the rafters so that they could get the new beams as near as possible to the originals. The footbridge at the station is not being replaced but a new set of steps will be installed leading straight from Guide Bridge Lane onto the Manchester-bound platform in a second phase of work starting in the Spring. At the same time, permanent, level, DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant access will be created to both platforms. The stairs to the other platform were not affected by the fire.