Castleford station improvement updates

[johntea]

It looks as if the contractors have nearly finished the works at Castleford station, the car park was meant to be back open this week but seems as if they're still putting the finishing touches to that as it is still barriered off - some slight improvements have also been made to the footpaths and the like around the station

I haven't been inside the new building yet but it basically looks from the outside like a minature carbon copy of what the bus station building looks like!

Got me thinking are there many other 1 platform, unstaffed, stations on the network that have had such an ambitious makeover? In reality it feels like the backup plan to the proposed bus and rail interchange project from about 10 years ago

 

[SuperNova]

I think it's only the start for Castleford. Works been done at possibly reopening platform 2 as part of TRU works.

 

[LMS 4F]

The new buildings is open as of now. Times 0700 x 1900 with a Northern Employee in attendance. To be locked at other times.
The underpass to Half Acres area is still shut. The car park is nearly finished.
Platform 2 has had the vegetation cut back but nothing else done. I suspect tatted up for some sort of official opening.

 

[16.19]

I think it's only the start for Castleford. Works been done at possibly reopening platform 2 as part of TRU works.

Platform 2 will indeed be re-opening in the future.

 

[BarryD]

Platform 2 will indeed be re-opening in the future.

Are there plans for new services?

 

[BarryD]

There's an awful lot of speculation here - which is fine by me - but does anyone know for certain that platform 2 is being brought back into use? And if it is, why?

 

[grangergranger]

There's an awful lot of speculation here - which is fine by me - but does anyone know for certain that platform 2 is being brought back into use? And if it is, why?

A user asked a question to the WYCA about Platform 2, and they replied with this.

Castleford Railway Station Improvements

The upgraded station car park and new station building at Castleford Railway Station work was completed in December 2020. The underpass has been re-opened for public use and was completed in Summer 2021. Background The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership

www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Are you bringing platform two back into use?​

This aim of this project is to provide better facilities at Castleford station. Unfortunately, platform 2 works are not within the scope of the current station improvements. This is something that is being investigated as part of Network Rail’s Transpennine Route Upgrade, and is independent to this station improvement project. Similarly, any alterations to the track layout are also outside of the scope of this project.

 

[YorksLad12]

Sounds about right, and no change to previous answers in previous years.

 

[johntea]

Something I spotted is that they've ditched the dot matrix displays for these larger computer monitor style displays :-

https://www.twitter.com/NetworkRailLDS/status/1339567325222232064/photo/1

Are they in place at other stations? First time I've seen screens of that style I think!

 

[yorkie]

This thread has been reopened at the request of @johntea

Please note that this thread is to discuss station improvements; if anyone wishes to discuss anything else, please use a separate thread. There is a thread to discuss potential services at: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/my-idea-extend-huddersfield-castleford-services-to-york.201225

A user asked a question to the WYCA about Platform 2, and they replied with this.

Castleford Railway Station Improvements

The upgraded station car park and new station building at Castleford Railway Station work was completed in December 2020. The underpass has been re-opened for public use and was completed in Summer 2021. Background The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership

www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Sounds about right, and no change to previous answers in previous years.

If what @johntea says is true, things have moved on since these answers were given

Also, while I've no reason to doubt this update, I cannot find any source for the information myself.

 

[johntea]

According to a local Facebook group some workmen have turned up and started digging up the only very recently refurbished station (I can confirm this bit!)

This is for Phase 2 of the Re-Development, the opening of Platform 2 (the other side).
A new bridge is being built with steps, ramps and a lift.
Hopefully the platform 'should' be open Christmas 2022.
Heard it from a couple of workmen at the station.
So please don't shoot the messenger.

Further comments suggest this is likely part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (from someone who is actually a worker on the project), a permanent platform is going in, they are 'slewing' the tracks and all new signals

 

[yorkie]

Having been through Castleford today, I didn't see any evidence of any works going on relating to platform 2.

 

[Crossover]

Got one hell of a shock when I popped over to Castleford a week and a bit ago - was not expecting all the changes!

For those unfamiliar, here is the new station building (which seems to be primarily a waiting room)

 

[_toommm_]

Got one hell of a shock when I popped over to Castleford a week and a bit ago - was not expecting all the changes!

For those unfamiliar, here is the new station building (which seems to be primarily a waiting room)

Well that does look nice for ol’ Casvegas!

 

[Revaulx]

That looks really good. Functional and no-frills, but someone has obviously taken some trouble over it.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Passing through Castleford on my commute this morning I was intrigued to see some digging has begun on the (currently out of use) platform 2 with some temporary fencing put in place. Anyone know what's happening?

 

[66Yorks]

Reconstruction of Plt 2 and new footbridge.

 

[swt_passenger]

Reconstruction of Plt 2 and new footbridge.

Is this likely to be what was mentioned in post #11, that seemed to be a false dawn…

 

[66Yorks]

No, its on the local council website planning portal for everyone to see.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I am not sure it has started on site yet but may be some investigation works?

 

[tompatt]

I am not sure it has started on site yet but may be some investigation works?

Link to planning portal here. Looks like NR submitted it.

https://planning.wakefield.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=R03AKSQQ0BX00&activeTab=summary

Start on site due next Summer to complete in the autumn

 

[yorksrob]

Ooh, how exciting !

 

[Pinza-C55]

It's surprising to see that the station signalbox is still rotting away 30 years after it closed.

 

[yorksrob]

It's surprising to see that the station signalbox is still rotting away 30 years after it closed.

Yes, I didn't realise it has been thirty years !

 

[WestRiding]

Is this just for Transpennine Express to dump passengers for Leeds? No new service is planned for Castleford in reality is it?

 

[59CosG95]

Is this just for Transpennine Express to dump passengers for Leeds? No new service is planned for Castleford in reality is it?

My cynical side would agree. But it certainly does open the door for future service opportunities!

 

[IanXC]

Is this just for Transpennine Express to dump passengers for Leeds? No new service is planned for Castleford in reality is it?

The key driver of the works is the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme, having 2 platforms will, yes, allow for TPE usage but also enable that to happen while maintaining more of the normal service while the diversions are taking place. Then after TRU is finished another platform will leave a legacy of a more flexible layout allowing for more timetable flexibility, more options during late running and more options for service changes/increases in the future.

 

[Bigman]

I bobbed over to Cas last week to see what was happening. Access hole knocked through the wall and some digging up on the platform. I note that the junction signal on the up line from Burton Salmon is East of the station. If trains were to start stopping in platform 2 once again, would this potentially need to be moved to the West end of the platform next to the signal box?

 

[MarkyT]

I bobbed over to Cas last week to see what was happening. Access hole knocked through the wall and some digging up on the platform. I note that the junction signal on the up line from Burton Salmon is East of the station. If trains were to start stopping in platform 2 once again, would this potentially need to be moved to the West end of the platform next to the signal box?

Ideally yes it should be moved for maximum flexibility, especially if trains were also reversing in pl.2, although other track changes would be required as well to allow that, namely a facing right-handed crossover on approach from Pontefract.

 

[johntea]

Apparently lifts are getting fitted too as well as the new footbridge so it certainly sounds like they want to make it a 'proper' platform!