48. Northampton Station re-development, visit 2-23.08.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 48. Northampton Station re-development, visit 2-23.08.14

My second visit to Northampton station to assess the progress of its rebuilding. The main feature that has emerged since my last visit is the construction of a huge temporary footbridge to the north end of the station.

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Images 1-13 of 13 displayed.

Down Freightliner, 86637, 05.03 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L97) & 350260, LM 12.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, Northampton station
A busy scene at Northampton station is seen from the St. James Road bridge. With all lines occupied, from left to right, an unidentified northbound Freightliner, 86637 is held at a red signal leading the 4L97 05.03 Trafford Park to Felixstowe and 350260 working the 12.54 Birmingham to Euston London Midland service.
Keywords: Down Freightliner 86637, 05.03 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L97 350260 12.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston Northampton station Freightliner London Midland Desiro

86637, 05.03 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North (4L97) & 350260, LM 12.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, Northampton station
The former footbridge at Northampton station is seen now partially demolished with its temporary replacement in the background. Work has started in earnest on the former front car park with the archaeological work now completed. 86637 is seen being held working the 05.03 Trafford Park to Felixstowe Freightliner waiting for 350260 to leave working the 12.54 Birmingham to Euston train.
Keywords: 86637 05.03 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North 4L97 350260 12.54 Birmingham New Street-London Euston Northampton station Freightliner London Midland Desiro

Frontage & re-development, Northampton station
Whilst the infamous 'three cowsheds' are still very much in use as a functioning station the developments in the former front car park are very much underway. According to the plans that I have seen the foreground will be where the new station building will be located with everything else seen in this scene demolished. I hope that the fine people of Northampton appreciate their shiny new station whenever it opens!
Keywords: Frontage re-development Northampton station

Former car park re-development, Northampton station
It appears that modifications to the huge steel pilings that will make up the frame of the new station building at Northampton require some sort of modifications judging by the welder operating from his mobile van. This is the former front car park of the station that will be completely covered by the new and impressive looking building
Keywords: Former car park re-development Northampton station

Former footbridge, Northampton station
The former station footbridge is seen at Northampton in a state of semi-demolition with the lift towers already removed. The bridge was constructed in 1965 when the station was last comprehensively rebuilt.
Keywords: Former footbridge Northampton station

350118, LM 13.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street, Northampton station
Under the partially dismantled former station footbridge at Northampton, 350118 waits to depart with the 13.13 service to Birmingham New Street. The challenges of keeping a station fully operational during a full re-build must be a H&S officer's nightmare! However, being such a busy station Northampton needs to be kept open all especially the thousands of commuters who use the station every day.
Keywords: 350118 13.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street Northampton station London Midland Desiro

350118, LM 13.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street & 350238, LM 12.54 London Euston-Northampton, Northampton station (from temporary footbridge)
The new temporary station footbridge installed at Northampton as part of its complete rebuild offers some interesting new views of the station. In this view, looking south, a pair of Class 350 London Midland Desiros stand at platforms two and three. 350118 is working the 13.13 Euston to Birmingham New Street whilst 350238 has just terminated with the 12.54 from Euston.
Keywords: 350118 13.13 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 350238 12.54 London Euston-Northampton, Northampton station from temporary footbridge London Midland Desiro

66433, 11.15 DIRFT-Tilbury FLT (4L48), Northampton station (from temporary footbridge)
Catching the attention of a couple of railway photographers on the platform at Northampton station 66433 brings the daily 4L48 11.15 DIRFT to Tilbury Teso Express slowly through the centre road. This new viewpoint is as a result of the new temporary station footbridge that has opened as part of the full rebuilding of the station. It certainly offers a commanding view of the lines both north (as here) and south through the station.
Keywords: 66433 11.15 DIRFT-Tilbury FLT 4L48 Northampton station from temporary footbridge DRS Teso Express

350238, LM 14.25 Northampton-Birmingham New Street, Northampton station (from temporary footbridge)
The 14.25 Northampton to Birmingham New Street Desiro service waits at Northampton's platform three. This alternative view is taken from the heights of the recently installed temporary footbridge that towers above the station. This footbridge will be in use whilst the station is redeveloped over the coming year or so.
Keywords: 350238 14.25 Northampton-Birmingham New Street Northampton station from temporary footbridge London Midland Desiro

11.15 DIRFT-Tilbury FLT (4L48), Northampton station (from temporary footbridge)
The 4L48 11.15 Daventry (DIRFT) to Tilbury FLT (Tesco Express) makes its way slowly away from Northampton station after being held for a London-bound unit has departed. This new vantage pint from the station's rather rickety and open station footbridge gives a commanding view of the old station whist the new one begins to take shape in the background where the crane is at work.
Keywords: 11.15 DIRFT-Tilbury FLT 4L48 Northampton station from temporary footbridge

350248, LM 13.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, Northampton station
340248 wait at Northampton's platform one working the 13.14 Birmingham New Street to London Euston service. It is standing under the huge temporary footbridge that has been constructed whilst the station is redeveloped. It is so tall as it has to safely clear the overhead catenary. Notice the extremely primitive (and very noisy!) lifts at either end of the structure that like the bridge itself, offers no protection to users. That's fine in balmy August but come the autumn and winter it will be a different matter!
Keywords: 350248 13.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston Northampton station

Remains of former footbridge, Northampton station
This will probably be my last view of Northampton station's old footbridge which is in the advanced stages of demolition and removal with lifts and their towers having already been taken away, hopefully for re-use. In the meantime, passengers will need to make use of the huge temporary structure at the other end of the platforms, as seen in the previous photograph.
Keywords: Remains of former footbridge Northampton station

Platforms 1,2 & 3, Northampton station (from temporary footbridge)
This is not a view often seen! It shows the less commonly used north-facing bay platforms four and five at Northampton station. Along with the very rarely ever used parcels and Royal Mail platform, they are seen from the recently installed temporary footbridge installed whilst the station is redeveloped (for the third time in its history). I am not at all sure at this time what plans there are for these three platforms but they certainly ought to be used given the ever-increasing number of passengers using the station with 2.7 million entries and exits last year (2012-13).
Keywords: Platforms 1,2 & 3, Northampton station from temporary footbridge

Images 1-13 of 13 displayed.