02.10.14
New Glasgow Queen Street designs unveiled as second consultation begins
The second public consultation on the proposed £104m transformation of Glasgow Queen Street station has been launched by Network Rail, with updated designs also unveiled.
Glasgow Queen Street is Scotland’s third busiest station with 20 million passengers, expected to grow to 28 million by 2030.
As well as overhauling the station’s rail infrastructure and operational capabilities, the redevelopment will transform passenger facilities and improve how the station interacts with the surrounding city.
From feedback received during the first phase of consultation, Network Rail has changed the design of the façade and the shape of the roof; the main access ramp has moved from outside to inside the building and is now within the glass frontage of the station.
It has also widened the stairs at the entrance onto George Square; started an additional study to look at enhanced access to the low level station; the footbridge running east/west at mezzanine level across the centre of the station has been removed; and it has changed ticket gate lines to further enhance concourse space and improve access to the low level station.
This is the third set of designs for the project proposed by architects BDP. Its plans were first revealed in 2011, but after public feedback were updated in February this year. Since then the practice has modified them again. David Dickson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “The proposals unveiled for the second phase of consultation demonstrate that we have listened to, and acted on, what people are telling us they want to see at the station.
“The feedback we receive in this second phase will be just as important in shaping a station which better serves passengers, serves Glasgow and creates a landmark development in this iconic location.”
With construction work due to begin in 2015 and complete in 2019, the project to redevelop Queen Street is expected to create a modern station which reflects Queen Street’s role as a gateway to the city. It will also replace the current 1970s entrance, and the hotel extension above, with a 500sq m modern glass frontage.
Transport minister Keith Brown said: “Queen Street is one of Scotland’s most important stations. This consultation is informing plans which will transform the station into a 21st century transport hub.”
The Queen Street redevelopment is part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), which will deliver a rolling programme of electrification across central Scotland over the next five years and beyond.
The second part of the public consultation will run 1 October until 22 December.
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