December 13 2018

Network Rail has given the go-ahead to a £13m package of improvements at Dunbar Station, including the creation of a second platform and a step-free footbridge.

The improvements will increase capacity by allowing a new class of ten carriage trains to stop and offers scope for increased flexibility along the East Coast mainline.

Matthew Spence, Network Rail route delivery director for Scotland, commented: “The new platform, which will be fully accessible, will mean extra capacity at Dunbar and create opportunities for more services to stop in the future.”

Lift towers for the new overbridge will be clad in red or blonde sandstone in an effort to remain sympathetic to the historic town.

Graphics for the project were prepared by IDP Architects with Amco expected to begin engineering works in the summer for completion by early 2020.

19 Comments

#1 Posted by HMR on 13 Dec 2018 at 12:20 PM

That's grim, can't we design a better balustrade to the stairs. Why the solid panels enclosing the stairs

#2 Posted by Martin Morrison on 14 Dec 2018 at 10:59 AM

Why is the footbridge not glass panels. Anything could happen inside it with no visibility. Stupid idea to create a muggers paradise

#3 Posted by FLW on 14 Dec 2018 at 13:28 PM

#1 & #2
If you don't know anything about NR regulations and can't understand why they were developed, don't bother commentating.
Typical UR Troll ignorance!

#4 Posted by Good Guy on 14 Dec 2018 at 13:37 PM

Are you two (#1&2) nuts?
Probably because of the ridiculous Building Control and safety reasons for which the station will need to be compliant, in particular the balustrade.
As for a glass enclosure, how are you supposed to clean that? If it was glass, all we'd see on here would be people moaning about how it'd look in winter.
Give the guys a break, some people are never happy.

I imagine the sandstone will also look alot better IRL than on the render with a nicely contrasted stair and footbridge.

#5 Posted by Fin controller on 15 Dec 2018 at 16:41 PM

#3 neither do you! Have you seen the new designs for the upgrade of all footbridge and lifts? It's all glass but it was designed by a design practice! IDP are just keech and uninspiring.

#6 Posted by Cadmonkey on 16 Dec 2018 at 12:36 PM

#3
Yawn
How do you explain the glass panels at Seabraes pedestrian bridge at Dundee?
Yawn

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-33151251

#7 Posted by Fin controller on 17 Dec 2018 at 08:55 AM

#6 to be fair Cadmonkey, FLW - IDP (lacky) tend to do the network rail 'homers' so not the project with design requirements

#8 Posted by Fact checker on 17 Dec 2018 at 12:36 PM

#6

Seabraes isn't a Network Rail Bridge.

#9 Posted by Great Guy on 17 Dec 2018 at 14:46 PM

#5/7 - did IDP not give you an interview or did they do something to you in a past life?

#10 Posted by urbanrealm on 17 Dec 2018 at 17:05 PM

To clarify, IDP produced the graphics only and did not have any design involvement.

#11 Posted by Fin controller on 17 Dec 2018 at 19:30 PM

#9 did you miss the picture at the top of the article?
Just saying what I'm seeing.

#12 Posted by Greatest Guy on 18 Dec 2018 at 09:05 AM

Instead of what you're reading, clearly.

#13 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 18 Dec 2018 at 10:58 AM

NR in Scotland get away with murder.
Not sure if they are under instruction from the SEG to deliver tripe to the masses but their design standards are shocking.

Compare and contrast this tripe and a similar design that was knocked up for Croy with the improvements they made to Cambridge Station.

To repeat utter dross.

#14 Posted by FLW on 18 Dec 2018 at 19:22 PM

@CAD Monkey
I guess I struck a nerve commenting on your previous trolling?
Did you actually bother to read the article you quoted or just look at the pictures? Just to spell it out, "Funding for the bridge was sourced from the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise".
There's so much moronic criticism on this site without any real understanding of how projects are regulated, procured & funded. You do know that other property professionals read this site. The level of trolling is a real embarrassment to the profession!
Why not point us to your contribution on some of the projects you've worked on.

#15 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 19 Dec 2018 at 11:35 AM

I overheard a conversation on the Cathcart Circle train some time back.
The station building at Cathcart had just recently had its glazed canopy roof refurbished and all the drainage upgraded as well.
There was a woman who I couldn't tell whether she was client side or not but was, in not really hushed tones, marvelling at how they had, by omission, managed to 'get away' with not replacing the georgian wire glass canopy with similar glass.
The canopy today has cheap-looking plain clear glass panels and cheap-looking plastic caps with gutters that leak at connections.
If this is the ambition or base level of operating for those involved in delivery of the jobs then no wonder rubbish like the above is allowed to perpetuate, no matter the architect involved.

#16 Posted by Cadmonkey on 19 Dec 2018 at 23:53 PM

#14FLW
Not sure what you are talking about.
Seabraes spans a Network Rail line.
So presumably it needs their agreement and to comply with their regulations, and....it is glass.
I don’t think pointing this out is “moronic”.
What is your point?

#17 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 20 Dec 2018 at 12:20 PM

Surely some City Deal money could be found to close the funding gap between this absolute abomination and something, someway half decent?

The current design shames public transport in Scotland.

#18 Posted by FLW on 20 Dec 2018 at 15:33 PM

"presumably"?

#19 Posted by Cateran on 22 Dec 2018 at 23:15 PM

I've been to the station only once in goodness knows how long but I honestly thought I was looking at a picture of something from the 60s. If that is the proposal it reeks of the mundane rubbish we have accepted in railway design/architecture for the past 60 years. Can't we ever get railway infrastructure looking like someone put more than 20 minutes thought into the design.

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