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chuffed
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« on: October 17, 2013, 19:08:57 » |
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The entire roof on Bristol Temple Meads railway station is to be replaced.
Network Rail says it has secured ^15m to carry out maintenance of the roof and install new lighting and cables.
The announcement was made as a pact was signed to "significantly transform" the station over the next 25 years.
Network Rail, Bristol City Council, the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, Homes and Communities Agency and English Heritage are supporting the plan.
Each has signed the 25-year memorandum of understanding to redevelop the station.
Patrick Hallgate, of Network Rail Western, said: "Our plans for Bristol will see the railway significantly transformed by the end of the decade, with more seats, better connections and more frequent services."
The railway station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1840.
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ellendune
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« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2013, 19:58:03 » |
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Its a deal to fund the design work for the masterplan and perhaps a commitment to seek funding for the agreed works.
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grumpysocks
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« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2013, 16:08:32 » |
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I wonder if Brunel et al has a Steering Group to design and build the place originally?
Or did they just have a vision of wonder and go for it...?
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2013, 16:32:04 » |
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New roof? I hope this isn't another evil plot to destroy our heritage railway archtecture and that the new roof will match the old.
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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ellendune
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« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2013, 17:28:43 » |
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Since the station is a grade 1 listed building, and knowing the attitude of English Heritage, I think it will be pretty similar.
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2013, 21:21:56 » |
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That is a right mess. Why can't they leave well alone, or if the existing structure is beyond repair at least build an exact replica? The conservation area didn't save Fishguard & Goodwick station and listed building status hasn't safeguarded Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury from awful plans for Arriva Trains Wales redevelopments (as yet unimplemented). |
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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Electric train
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« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2013, 21:49:14 » |
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The recent work at Kings Cross and at Paddington are good examples where NR» work with EH and local authorities to renovate sympathetically list buildings to retain heritage yet adapt them to function in the 21st century. Brunel would have been the last person to have things preserved in aspic such they do not perform a practical function.
I am sure the renovation of Bristol Temple Meads will preserve the historic features and provide a modern functional transport hub
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Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
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John R
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« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2013, 22:06:25 » |
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To be fair, there's a fair few years (around 70) that separate the demolition of the original roof, and the second picture. And the demolition of the first was a direct result of an earlier less benign german influence on our rail network. And in between the two was a rather unsightly office block at the rear, with an interesting history, as its construction was the direct result of a corrupt relationship between John Poulson and a BR▸ Surveyor, which led to the former getting a 7 year sentence. |
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JayMac
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« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2013, 04:31:13 » |
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Am I alone in thinking that station buildings should be fit for purpose? Preserving in aspic can be detrimental to modern use and can also cost considerably more than a new build.
By all means keep the heritage where possible, but when it has become no longer fit for purpose, say because of increased traffic, then why must we preserve and build around the old architecture?
If it is more cost effective to build a modern station then that is what should be done.
Stations are functional buildings, not museum pieces.
Brunel would probably have knocked down his original trainshed were he alive to see the increased traffic of today.
Nearly every aspect of Bristol Temple Meads is Grade 1 listed, from the original Brunel trainshed to the additional platforms added in the 1930s. The booking hall is too small and cramped for modern use, but all its architectural features have to remain because they are listed. Entrance to every platform is through two relatively narrow archways leading to the gateline. This is a bad pinch point and was originally built to serve just three platforms under the overall roof. Now passengers for all 13 platforms have to funnel through here. The barriers don't help.
Somehow there needs to be a larger booking hall and better access to/from all platforms, separately if possible, rather than all through Platform 3. There are a vast array of tunnels and undercrofts below the station. A way should be found to utilise these to aid passenger flow.
The facade and overall roof of the 1870s station should stay, but I'm saying the booking hall area and office buildings should be gutted and rebuilt/opened out to cope with today's (and tomorrow's) passenger numbers.
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"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
- Sir Terry Pratchett.
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4064ReadingAbbey
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« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2013, 11:37:59 » |
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That is a right mess. Why can't they leave well alone, or if the existing structure is beyond repair at least build an exact replica? The conservation area didn't save Fishguard & Goodwick station and listed building status hasn't safeguarded Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury from awful plans for Arriva Trains Wales redevelopments (as yet unimplemented). The roof at Cannon Street station was damaged beyond repair in the Second World War. The original glass roof had been removed before the war in an attempt to save it but the site where it was stored was also bombed and the roof destroyed. The remains of the roof and the station were patched up to stop any more bits falling off in the immediate post-war years and, IIRC▸ , it was built over, at least partially, in the 60s when BR▸ badly needed the money from the air rights. Connected with this is the unedifying story of the architect paying bribes to one of the BR surveyors - both parties were tried for corruption in the mid-1970s. The building which is now there is the second iteration of the office block and was built in the 1980s. |
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