J Gunn Scaffolding was proud to get the chance to provide access and egress solutions to allow repairs of the iconic Newcastle Railway Station. It was a challenging, complex project, but one we were ready to tackle.

A significant station

Newcastle Railway Station (aka Central Station) is one of the busiest and most beloved stations in Northern England. It is a significant architectural and engineering landmark, with a Grade 1 listing to preserve it.

Interestingly, there had been plans to build a new central station in Newcastle in the 1830s. The idea was to replace three earlier stations, creating a main link for two lines; the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway and the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway. It would also go on to provide connections to London and Scotland, revolutionising travel in the region. The station officially opened on 29th August 1850, inaugurated by Queen Victoria.

Newcastle Railway Station is the most famous project by John Dobson, one of North England’s most celebrated architects. Engineers Thomas Elliot Harrison and Robert Stephenson (son of “Father of Railways” George Stephenson and responsible for designing High Level Bridge) also had a hand in the work.

The station is renowned because of Dobson’s grand design; it has a classical frontage and a distinctive barrelled roof with three curved, arched spans. The design is so special it became the precedent for future stations all over the UK.

As well as the exceptional design, Newcastle Railway Station has become a significant hub of activity. It plays a key role in travel and tourism, serving millions of customers every year. It’s been the site of various historical events too, including royal visits. Crucially, it is a key stop on the East Coast Mainline. Additionally, it has been vital for the movement of goods for decades.

Renovations, expansions and repairs

As you would expect from such a busy and significant station, there have been various improvements to Newcastle Railway Station over the years. This includes several expansions (1871, 1877, and 1894) to add more platforms. There have also been upgrades to improve the facilities and support higher passenger numbers. Additionally, the Metro station was built at the end of the 70s, opening in 1981.

In January 2023, J Gunn Scaffolding were asked to look at the potential of erecting safe access and egress to the full perimeter of Newcastle Railway Station by our client Colt Construction Limited, working on behalf of Network Rail.

The project was to repair areas of the station building where years of weathering had deteriorated the sandstone. We worked with Colt and RV Engineering, a well-recognised design engineering company, to create a plan for the project. The scaffolding was a complex layer system plus traditional scaffolding, allowing stonemasons to repair and replace the sandstone safely.

Installing the scaffolding would take place in phases to prevent any disruption to the public and taxi services operating at the rank at the station. The total duration of the scaffolding erection was 6 weeks for all phases.

Phase 1

The first part of the project began with installing a piece of complex scaffolding (450 unit beams) to bridge over the main car park entrance. We had to bolt the scaffold to the walls and conduct shear testing to ensure it was stable.

Phase 1 was the most intense part of the project, even with working night shift patterns, because of the need for around the clock vehicle and pedestrian access to the car park. The fact there is only one road in and one road out added to the difficulty. Throughout this phase we had to ensure the Health and Safety of vehicles and pedestrians. As a result, a traffic management plan was put in place.

Once the scaffolding was up, we did pull tests to ensure it was securely in place. We also installed debris netting to further enhance health and safety. Plus, the scaffold was fully hoarded. A pin code access point limited access to stonemasons and other workers.

Phase 2

The second phase was to install scaffolding on the main station building itself. This would allow the stonemasons to carry out repairs in various areas over a number of months. The scaffolding was 5x sleepers wide to support the weight.

Phase 2 was also tricky because of the risk to the public; it was on a busy footpath in front of the station. Scaffolding was erected on night shift working patterns to keep the public out of harm’s way. Crucially, we chose to cordon off areas to limit access. Plus, we had to install full debris netting to keep all materials and tools inside the scaffolding.

Phase 3

The final works were at the furthest end of Newcastle Railway Station. This area also had complications because it was a busy hub for taxis and other vehicles. Once again the Health and Safety of pedestrians and vehicles was paramount here. So, we installed the scaffolding on night shift working to safeguard the public.

Talk to us about scaffolding

Our work at Newcastle Railway Station is yet another showcase of our skill and ability to handle complex projects. We can install scaffolding effectively in challenging settings while maximising health and safety. If you want to talk to us about a project, please get in touch.