The UK’s Network Rail has planned a £14.7m investment for replacing the roof of the Carlisle station and redevelopment of all eight platforms.
The new roof is expected to brighten up the look of the station, and will be made of ETFE (ethene-co-tetrafluoroethene).
Go deeper with GlobalData
ETFE has also been on the roofs of the new Manchester Victoria and Birmingham New Street stations.
The investment will be a part of the railway network operator’s Railway Upgrade Plan, and is intended to extend the life of the ancient construction and bring down future maintenance costs.
The rebuilt platforms will have new surfaces along with tactile paving marking their edges, which can ensure passenger safety.
Network Rail has co-ordinated with Historic England and station operator Virgin Trains for the refurbishment plans, which have been drawn keeping in mind the station’s listed building status.
The refurbishment works will be carried out without any disruption of the usual train services, Network Rail said.
While the roof replacement is expected to cost around £9.5m, the rest of the amount has been allotted for the platform upgrades.
Works for the roof, which will start from 30 November, is expected to continue for 15 months, following which work on the platforms will begin.
The upgrades are expected to be completed by February 2018.
A full scaffold ‘crash-deck’ will be installed in the station while works on the roof will be carried out to ensure safety of the passengers. This, however, will affect the entry of natural light in the station, for which temporary lighting will be used.
Network Rail area director Terry Strickland said: "Carlisle station is impressive and historic but its large roof is showing its age and is in need of significant repair. This investment, part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, will protect it for decades to come.
"Together with the improved platforms, the station’s environment will be much more pleasant for passengers and provide them with a better start or end to their journeys."
Network Rail has also transformed the London Waterloo underground station into a multimedia art gallery in order to host the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards exhibition.
The competition will last until 7 February 2016, when the winner will be awarded the top prize of £10,000.
Image: The roof replacement is expected to cost around £9.5m. Photo: courtesy of Network Rail.
