BBC report he

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14744617

based on the full Network Rail report published yesterday:

http://tinyurl.com/3uswno7

or he http://preview.tinyurl.com/3uswno7

At a total of 11 stations, therefore, it is recommended
that interventions are investigated to understand and
address crowding by the end of Control Period 5 (CP5)
in 2019. The stations are as follows:

Basingstoke, Bristol Parkway, Clapham Junction
Liverpool Lime Street, London Charing Cross
London Fenchurch Street, London Victoria
Preston, Surbiton, Watford Junction, Wimbledon

Paul S

The report mentions Liverpool Central as one station with possible
future issues.

A better solution would be to rip it out and start again. Liverpool
Central is a nasty, damp rat-hole with a third-rate shopping centre on
top. Very much like New St without the diesel fumes, but in some ways
nastier.

Neil

On 01/09/2011 13:57, Neil Williams wrote:

A better solution would be to rip it out and start again. Liverpool
Central is a nasty, damp rat-hole with a third-rate shopping centre on
top. Very much like New St without the diesel fumes, but in some ways
nastier.

I believe (nothing formally announced yet) that a rebuild of the station
is on the cards for next year, probably involving closure for several
months.

Whenever I hear people complaining about Liverpool Central LL (and I
hear it quite a lot), I tend to agree with them, then point them to this
picture to remind them that it used to be far, far worse:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28083135@N06/5363535234/

--
Robert Hampton (change 'nospam' to 'rhmeuk' to reply)
http://www.roberthampton.me.uk/

Robert Hampton wrote:
On 01/09/2011 13:57, Neil Williams wrote:
A better solution would be to rip it out and start again. Liverpool
Central is a nasty, damp rat-hole with a third-rate shopping centre on
top. Very much like New St without the diesel fumes, but in some ways
nastier.

I believe (nothing formally announced yet) that a rebuild of the station
is on the cards for next year, probably involving closure for several
months.

Whenever I hear people complaining about Liverpool Central LL (and I
hear it quite a lot), I tend to agree with them, then point them to this
picture to remind them that it used to be far, far worse:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28083135@N06/5363535234/


That's a photo of the former terminus of the Mersey Railway that is no
longer used. I assume that you are talking about Merseyrail
rebuilding the Link Line platforms which have been a problem since
they were completed in the 1970s. The platforms are far too cramped
for the number of passengers using them.

The Loop Line tunnel and platform was built at the same time but under
a separate contract. It does not suffer the same problems.

On Sep 1, 9:57*pm, Bruce wrote:

That's a photo of the former terminus of the Mersey Railway that is no
longer used.

Er, not quite. The former Mersey Railway platforms were rebuilt into
the Link platforms. The old line towards James St is still there as a
stock-interchange line - look out to the left when leaving Central
northbound. The "stub" at the other end was continued on and burrowed
up into the old Central high-level line towards St James (could do
with being reopened for the university, though possibly under a
different name) and Garston.

It's interesting that seemingly only one photo of things as they were
exists - that is I think the same one as found in my Merseyrail book
issued around the time of the rebuild.

The deep level platforms are indeed far more pleasant, though perhaps
a repanel to give them a more modern look might not be a bad idea.
But Low Level isn't nice, even though it *was* ripped out and
substantially altered (a new roof in parts, for instance, though it
still leaks!) when rebuilt in the 1970s. I think it would have been
better either to roof it in properly and make it look like the Loop
platforms (or a faux-James St[1]) or to make it completely open to the
air, more like Conway Park, given that all that's on top of most of it
(barring the station building) is a car park.

[1] While James St is of similar vintage, the high curved roof, murals
and lighting style coupled with the slightly damp atmosphere make it
quite an impressive station, to me at least. The problem with Central
Low Level is that it just feels like a 1970s bodge that had a lick of
paint once or twice.

Neil

Neil Williams wrote:

On Sep 1, 9:57*pm, Bruce wrote:

That's a photo of the former terminus of the Mersey Railway that is no
longer used.

Er, not quite. The former Mersey Railway platforms were rebuilt into
the Link platforms. The old line towards James St is still there as a
stock-interchange line - look out to the left when leaving Central
northbound. The "stub" at the other end was continued on and burrowed
up into the old Central high-level line towards St James (could do
with being reopened for the university, though possibly under a
different name) and Garston.


Thanks!


It's interesting that seemingly only one photo of things as they were
exists - that is I think the same one as found in my Merseyrail book
issued around the time of the rebuild.

The deep level platforms are indeed far more pleasant, though perhaps
a repanel to give them a more modern look might not be a bad idea.


The GRP panels never looked particularly attractive, even when new.
But one cannot dispute their longevity, which is impressive.

On Sep 2, 9:40*am, Neil Williams wrote:
On Sep 1, 9:57*pm, Bruce wrote:

That's a photo of the former terminus of the Mersey Railway that is no
longer used.

Er, not quite. *The former Mersey Railway platforms were rebuilt into
the Link platforms. *The old line towards James St is still there as a
stock-interchange line - look out to the left when leaving Central
northbound. *The "stub" at the other end was continued on and burrowed
up into the old Central high-level line towards St James (could do
with being reopened for the university, though possibly under a
different name) and Garston.

It's interesting that seemingly only one photo of things as they were
exists - that is I think the same one as found in my Merseyrail book
issued around the time of the rebuild.

The deep level platforms are indeed far more pleasant, though perhaps
a repanel to give them a more modern look might not be a bad idea.
But Low Level isn't nice, even though it *was* ripped out and
substantially altered (a new roof in parts, for instance, though it
still leaks!) when rebuilt in the 1970s. *I think it would have been
better either to roof it in properly and make it look like the Loop
platforms (or a faux-James St[1]) or to make it completely open to the
air, more like Conway Park, given that all that's on top of most of it
(barring the station building) is a car park.

[1] While James St is of similar vintage, the high curved roof, murals
and lighting style coupled with the slightly damp atmosphere make it
quite an impressive station, to me at least. *The problem with Central
Low Level is that it just feels like a 1970s bodge that had a lick of
paint once or twice.

Neil

Wasn't there an contractual issue with the original project? Something
like the contractor going bust or the tenders coming in way above the
authorised sum, meaning that the scope of works had to be cut back.

On Sep 1, 8:09*pm, Robert Hampton wrote:

I believe (nothing formally announced yet) that a rebuild of the station
is on the cards for next year, probably involving closure for several
months.

I had heard about the possibility of digging out and opening (I nearly
said reopening, but it never opened in the first place) the leader
tunnel (you can see it on the left as you enter Central from the
north) that runs parallel to the main platforms as a Platform 3 for
terminating trains to improve capacity and reliability - is that
perhaps part of it?

Neil

"Robert Hampton" wrote in message
...
On 01/09/2011 13:57, Neil Williams wrote:

A better solution would be to rip it out and start again. Liverpool
Central is a nasty, damp rat-hole with a third-rate shopping centre on
top. Very much like New St without the diesel fumes, but in some ways
nastier.

I believe (nothing formally announced yet) that a rebuild of the station
is on the cards for next year, probably involving closure for several
months.

Announced today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...yside-14779812

"Merseyrail said it would mean closing the station for four months between
April and August next year while the work was carried out."

Paul S

On Sep 5, 11:47*am, "Paul Scott"
wrote:

"Merseyrail said it would mean closing the station for four months between
April and August next year while the work was carried out."

"Once complete, Liverpool Central station will have a refurbished
concourse area with natural light coming from the installation of a
clear glazed roof and glass external walls."

Sounds good. But what of the rotting, leaky platform level
infrastructure? One hopes they aren't just going to rebuild the
concourse and leave that as it is.

Neil