A new Newburgh station
All for less that £1m quid
Costs in the millions have been suggested as the price of a new station for Newburgh - Perhaps to much for some in Government. The campaign, however, believes a new station can be deployed quickly and cheaply by adopting modular design technology. It doesn't have to have to be big. A short halt for just three carriages is all it takes.
​​And it can be tested as an idea!
A temporary station can be put in place to assess its use. If figures are low it can be removed. But if it proves popular (as new station nearly always do) it can become a permanent fixture - one that can further expand to meet rising passenger numbers. A test station is operating in North Wales.
Cost-effective modular stations
Not built on site, but assembled instead
Modular rail stations are pre-fabricated, factory-built, designs using light-weight component ( modules) that can be easily transported 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.
Examples of modular stations and platforms
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.
Castle Bar Park Station, London
Build at the bottom of an embankment - An award-winning, short-platformed modular design.
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