A cost-effective Newburgh station
Assembling a modular station on site is cheaper and easier than building a station from scratch
All for less that £1 million
Figures approaching £6m were suggested as the price of a new, standard build station for Newburgh - For some in Government, a price too high for a small town. The campaign, however, believes a new station can be deployed quickly and cheaply by adopting modular design technology.
And the campaign sees no need for the station to have a long platform. As starting point, a short halt with a single platform of only 10 or 15 metres in length will be suffice.
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And we can test out this station idea!
Initially, it could be a 'test station', a short-length, modular station deployed to assess passenger numbers. A test station is being deployed in North Wales. If few use the station it can be easily removed. If, however, numbers meet or exceed expectations (as they nearly always do) the temporary station can become a permanent fixture - one that can expand with increasing passenger numbers.​
We believe a relatively cheap, safe and sustainable short length halt is right for Newburgh.
Cost-effective modular stations
Not built on site, but assembled instead
Modular rail stations are pre-fabricated, factory-built, light-weight components or modules designed to be transported to the desired location and assembled on-site. They offer benefits like faster construction and low carbon output. The environmental impact of modular design when compared to traditional brick and mortar construction is far less.
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Modular station are sanctioned by Network Rail
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They are an important part of their strategy for modernising the railway network.
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Modular stations are often favoured for their ability to be delivered quickly and cost-effectively, making them suitable for a range of projects, from upgrading existing stations to creating new ones. Network Rail has developed a "kit of parts" modular system for new stations, allowing for flexibility and tailoring to specific site requirements
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The advantages of Modular station design
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Off-site fabrication of components allows much of the work to be done concurrently with on-site preparation.
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Assembled quickly - Stations can be assembled on site with minimal disruption to train services or nearby road traffic.
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Standardised designs - reducing architectural and engineering costs.
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Standardised parts - and layouts simplify inspections, repairs, and upgrades. and make expanding a station easy.
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Reusable components - offer an economy of scale lead to lower construction and maintenance costs.
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Less waste - Modular construction typically generates less waste.
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Recycled material - Some providers of modular station designs increasing use eco-friendly materials like energy-efficient lighting or solar panels and recyclable materials including old wind turbine blades!
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Less on-site work - means fewer risks to workers and the public during construction.
Castle Bar Park station in London. An award-winning, short-platformed modular design
Examples of modular stations
Robroyston, Glasgow
​significant savings made - innovative construction methods and collaborative working, led to cost efficiencies. More >>>
Livingstone South, Scotland
Two new modular platforms in just 10 days - Existing platforms were demolished and replaced with one platform extended to accommodation longer trains. More >>>
Maghull North, Merseyside
Built in just 9 months - The £13 station is a fully-featured, two platformed station including a station building, bridge, and lift shafts.
A halt not a station
The term halt is being increasingly used to distinguish a small stop with minimal infrastructure from a larger fully-featured station.​​ An unmanned halt can comprise little more than a short-form platform, a ticket machine, a shelter and an electronic timetable.. Designs are fully accessible, ​
Many smaller rail stations were once entitled 'halts'. The term was removed from timetables by British Rail in 1974 but came back in 1978 for the opening of the IBM Halt in Greenock in Scotland.​
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The campaign proposes Newburgh adopts a short-platform halt. - cheap, easy-to-assemble means to connect to rail.
Beauly Station
A big hit with local commuters
Following a local campaign, Beauly station was reopened in 2002. It is a short-form design with a one 10m length, single platform.The new single platform, shelter and car park were built as part of a £250,000 project (£453K in today's figures*). The reopening of the station prompted 75% of local commuters to switch from road to rail. Beauly shows what can be achieved on a modest budget.
Conon Bridge
A cost-effective success
​In 2012, the Scottish Government announced that a new station £600,000 (£845,000 in today's figures*)with a single, carriage-length platform, would be built at Conan Bridge. It opened in early 2013 on budget.​In the month following the station's opening, more than 2,000 journeys were made to or from it. According to the then Minister for Transport, Keith Brown, the numbers "show that it was an extremely worthwhile investment".​
The viability of a proposed train station can be assessed by putting up a temporary test station. It would have a short platform, a simple shelter, a service display board, ticket machine and accessible access.
Test stations are modular and can be deployed for as little as £150k (plus the costs of accessibility requirements). and can be assembled and deployed quickly. They are flexible designs and can be shortened or lengthened depending on passenger numbers.
A test halt in Wales - Deeside Industrial Park
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The Welsh Government intends improving bus and train connectivity across North Wales. Network North Wales together with Network Rail are looking to deploy a temporary modular test halt at Deeside Industrial Park to assess demand for permanent rail services to one of Wales’ largest employment hubs.
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Suggested costs of a test halt in Newburgh
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Costs are based in a simple station described above.
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Assembly costs £50k to £65k
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Additional foundations, surfacing
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M&E costs plus design and track access (minimal) will raise this to approximately £100k.
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Adding Project Management etc. costs suggests a total of approximately
£150,000
Plus costs to ensure the station is accessible