Newcastle Central Station

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Newcastle Central Station

Newcastle Central Station is an important and busy regional transport hub for the city of Newcastle and the wider North-East, providing connectivity nationally to Scotland and London along the East Coast Main Line, regionally through local train services, and across the city through the Metro and interconnected Bus services.

It had long been the ambition of NE1, Newcastle’s business improvement district, to transform the station into a fitting gateway to the city. As part of a wider multi-million pound project, the area to the front of the station was envisioned to be pedestrianized and beautified with improved facilities and public realm for users.

However, Network Rail was viewed locally as an organisation which is hard to work with, has poor local relations, and which doesn’t easily invest in the city. Additionally, regeneration work would require close working with historic station structures requiring approval and stakeholder relations with key heritage organisations.

Meeting these challenges, Network Rail engaged closely with Newcastle council and NE1 to understand best practice and open up joint working and opportunities. Funding was identified from several locations, and a business case was prepared by Network Rail with support from the Council and NE1 with East Coast acting as client.

After identification of funding, the project was delivered on budget and on time for £8.6 million and in 10 months with English Heritage approval. In addition, the project supported NE1’s wider successful bid for regional growth funding, and Council investment in the area. Overall the area benefitted from £20 million of investment through effective collaboration.

The new station now acts as a welcome gateway to the city and improved public realm, with an enclosed glass portico with retail facilities, enhanced retail offer, relocation and improvement of travel centre, relocation of a taxi rank, and refurbishment of toilet facilities.

The Benefit Cost Ratio for the station project works was estimated to be 3.86, showing high value for money.

Key Statistics

Location: Newcastle Central Railway Station
Key Stakeholders:
  • Network Rail
  • East Coast
  • Northern
  • NE1
  • Nexus
  • Department for Transport
  • Newcastle City Council
  • English Heritage
Construction start date: May 2013
Construction completion date: March 2014
Cost: Project AFC: c.£8.615m (Station works) + c.£1.5m (local complimentary)

Sources of funding

Funder

Value

Station Commercial Project Facility – Station works: £8.615m
Newcastle City Council and NE1 – Complimentary local works: £1.5m

Rationale for Investment

The strong local desire to redevelop Newcastle Central Station and the surrounding area to provide a gateway to the Newcastle Central business district.

Scheme Objectives

  • To provide a fitting gateway to Newcastle’s central business district.
  • To improve interchange with buses, taxis, and the Metro.
  • To improve customer facilities to improve passenger satisfaction, and as a result provide additional journeys and farebox revenue.
  • To improve commercial trading at the station.

Appraisal and Selection

Scheme development

  • Aspiration of NE1 and Newcastle City Council to create fitting transport gateway to the central business district.
  • Network Rail perceived as difficult to work with.
  • Joint tour of Sheffield Station arranged, with understanding of joint working and opportunities.
  • Establish joint working group, and identify opportunities for the station including a retail study.
  • Station Commercial Project Facility (SCPF) fund identified as source and applied for; a DfT fund for station improvements delivering commercially focused improvement at existing stations.

Scheme prioritisation

After application for the SCPF funds, all SCPF bids for the round of investment were reviewed by a Steering Group with representatives from the DfT and Network Rail.

The Steering Group then presented each bid to an Awards Panel, with participants from DfT, Network Rail, and the Association for Train Operating Companies, for the Panel members to determine the successful applications.

Business case development

Due to the funding source from a DfT fund, the business case here was prepared by Network Rail, supported by Newcastle City Council and NE1 Business Improvement District, with the Train Operator acting as client. The Benefit Cost Ratio for the station project works came to 3.86, good value for money.

The success of the station business case allowed for Network Rail to support NE1’s bid for regional growth funding (£10m) and local investment of £1.5m. This allowed the gateway area to benefit from around £20m of investment through effective collaboration.

Implementation

Tendered for market delivery through Network Rail’s Infrastructure Projects, delivered by Network Rail Works Delivery, Ryder Architects, and Miller Construction. Monthly project boards established.

Delivered:

  • Enclosed Portico with enhanced & new retail facilities (900sqm).
  • Refurbished toilet facilities.
  • Improved signage.
  • Relocation of Travel Centre and Ticket facilities.
  • Relocation of Taxi Rank.

Evaluating the investment

Timing of activity          

  • Good: The project was delivered to time with alignment to supporting works.

Project delivery

  • Good: The project was delivered to budget, managed with the wider development of the Business Improvement District.

Stakeholders and partnership working

  • Good: The project was rooted in a need to improve collaboration between Network Rail and local stakeholders.
  • Project supported further investment in the local area, and working group has identified future opportunities for collaboration.

Improvements since opening

The success of the station business case allowed for Network Rail to support NE1’s bid for regional growth funding (£10m) and local investment of £1.5m. This allowed the gateway area to benefit from around £20m of investment through effective collaboration.

Summary

A £10 million package of investment in Newcastle Central Station to improve the public realm  with an enclosed glass portico with retail facilities, enhanced retail offer, relocation and improvement of travel centre, relocation of a taxi rank, and refurbishment of toilet facilities.  The expected economic return on investment is estimated at £3.86 for each £1 spent.

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