Nottingham station

Early beginnings

Nottingham's first station was Carrington Street station, which opened in May 1839, when the Midland Counties Railway opened the line from Nottingham to Derby. This terminus station was situated on the opposite side of Carrington Street to the current station, on a site now occupied by Nottingham Magistrates' Court. The original station gate posts still exist and form the pedestrian entrance to the Magistrates' Courts area.

The 1848 station

In 1844 the Midland Counties Railway merged with two others into the Midland Railway. By 1848, the new company had outgrown Carrington Street station and new lines to Lincoln had been opened. A new through station was opened on the current station site on 22 May 1848, replacing the Carrington Street station. The station was designed by the architect J E Hall of Nottingham, and had its entrance on Station Street. In 1869 the Midland Railway purchased the West Croft Canal arm, filling it and building additional parallel tracks to south.^[1]

In the 1880s Nottingham station employed 170 men. Although attractive when it first opened, by the early 1900s the station was cramped, with only three platforms.

On 18 September 1896 a light engine, running tender first, was passing through the station when it came into collision with six empty fish trucks. One of the trucks was thrown off the rails against a cast-iron column supporting the inner ends of the principals of the station roof, and when the column broke, a portion of the roof, about 94 feet (29 m) by 56.5 feet (17.2 m) fell onto the platforms and track. Six people on the platform were injured.^[2]

The 1904 station

Nottingham Midland Station, Nottingham

When the Great Central Railway opened its Victoria Station in 1900, the Midland Railway appointed Albert Edward Lambert,^[3] a local Nottingham architect, to rebuild the Midland station. Lambert had been the architect for the Nottingham Victoria railway station and consequently the two buildings shared many similarities in their design. The station was re-built largely on the same site as the Station Street station, but the entrance was relocated onto Carrington Street.^[4]

The first contract for the station buildings was awarded to Edward Wood and Sons of Derby on 23 January 1903, who were also awarded the contract for the buildings on platforms 1 and 2 on 16 September 1903. The contract for the buildings on platforms 4 and 5 was awarded to Kirk, Knight & Co of Sleaford on 18 June 1903, who were also responsible for building the parcels office (Forward House) on Station Street, which opened in November 1903. The structural steelwork and cast-ironwork was done by Handyside & Co.^[5] and the Phoenix Foundry, both of Derby.

The station was built in an Edwardian Baroque Revival style at a cost of £1 million (£98.5 million in 2016),^[6] and was described by the Nottingham Evening News on the eve of its opening (16 January 1904) as a magnificent new block of buildings. The building used a mix of red brick, terracotta (which was used as a substitute for building stone) and faience (a glazed terracotta) with slate and glazed pitch roofs over the principal buildings. The carriage entrances have Art Nouveau wrought-iron gates.^[7]

The station's forebuildings were opened to passengers without any formal ceremony on 17 January 1904, although next day the Evening News reported that the platforms were still in a state of chaos and these were not expected to be ready for another nine months. However it did consider that ‘the result promises to be the provision for Nottingham of one of the most commodious and most convenient passenger stations in the country’. The day began with the closure of the booking offices in the old station after the last tickets were issued for the 5:25 am London train and the new booking offices were opened in time to issue tickets for the 6:25 am Erewash Valley train. No attempt was made to exclude the public from the building and many took the opportunity to view the new station buildings. The Evening News commented on the public’s admiration of the style and elegance of the station approaches and booking hall and went on to describe the day’s events.^[8]

The 20th century

Detail of structural pillar showing the Handyside company logo.

The station became the property of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway under the railway grouping of 1923. On Sunday 2 July 1939 the station was targeted by the Irish Republican Army^[9] in an attack on eight stations in the Midlands under their S-Plan, the others being Leicester, Derby, Birmingham, Stoke, Coventry, Leamington Spa and Stafford. A bomb was left in a suitcase and exploded at 06.30am. The glass roof of the cloak room and inquiry office was blown away.^[10]

It was nationalised in 1948 by the Transport Act 1947, becoming part of British Railways. Following the privatisation of the railways in the 1990s, it was transferred to the ownership of Railtrack and subsequently Network Rail.

For many years the Midland Railway suffered the indignity of its rival, the Great Central Railway, crossing above the station on a 170-foot-long (52 m) bowstring girder bridge. This bridge became redundant in 1973 and was finally dismantled in the early 1980s. The alignment was later used for a new tramway bridge.^[11]:8

Station Street tram stop

The former Station Street tram stop

With the opening of the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) in March 2004, Nottingham station became the southern terminus of the new tram line. The actual tram stop was located on Station Street, directly north of Nottingham railway station and partially over the Nottingham Canal, and was constructed on a separate right-of-way, built on top of part of the old Great Central Main Line viaduct that used to lead northwards to the separate Nottingham Victoria railway station. To the north of the former stop, the tram route diverged from the old railway route, to join an on-street section through the centre of Nottingham. To the south the route ended at the end of the viaduct, where a since demolished bridge used to carry the Great Central line over the station. In 2012 work started to extend Nottingham Express Transit south towards Toton Lane and Clifton South.^[12]

A pair of trams stand at the terminus in Station Street

The tram stop itself was substantial, with a small station building containing a waiting area housing steps and a lift to reach the street below, plus a short footbridge over Station Street that connected to the main railway station. Up to three trams could be accommodated on the two platform faces: the western platform had a single length platform, while the eastern platform was an extended double-length platform.^[12]

Redevelopment

Plans for a multimillion-pound refurbishment and redevelopment of the station were unveiled by junior government minister Norman Baker on 5 October 2010.^[13][14][15] Under the scheme, the station's porte-cochère was to be made vehicle-free, and the station's Grade II* listed buildings restored. The redevelopment also included the construction of another platform, more shops, and the construction of a bridge to carry Nottingham Express Transit trams over the top of the station.^[11]:5,8[16]

Remodelling

Schemes costing £19 million (in 2007) and then £14 million (in 2008) were proposed.^[35]:1 Remodelling and re-signalling costing £11.6 million was approved on 15 May 2009 by the Network Rail Investment Board,^[36] and will take place as part of Control Period 4 (CP4) running from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2014.^[37] Nottingham station was partially closed for ten weeks during 2013 for the track and signalling work.^[38] During the blockade, the western end of the station was closed to trains for 37 days and the eastern end for 10 days.^[39]

Platform 4 was split to create two platforms.^[40][41] All four tracks at the western end had bi-directional railway signalling allowing a better choice of non-conflicting routes.^[40] These lines are referred to as Line A, Line B, Line C and Line D.^[42]:61 Although all lines are directional, their use is segregated, with services towards Sheffield and Mansfield focused on the northern pair of tracks, and services to Derby and Leicester focused on the southern pair of tracks.^[37][43]:140 Line-speeds for trains arriving from Chesterfield and the Robin Hood Line were increased from 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).^[40] On 7 March 2012 Network Rail requested formal "network change" acceptance from the train operating companies.^[43][44]

Change in platform numbering and lengths after remodelling^[42]:77

Platform number	previous	1	2	3	4		5	6
Platform length		409	82	409	373		372	285
Platform number	post-2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Platform length		343	90	296	112	150	290	268

On-site preparation works began in September 2011, with all new signal structures installed by June 2013 followed by the "Nottingham blockade" itself lasting from July 2013, until handover in September 2013.^[43]:141 The work was spread from Beeston, past Mansfield Junction, Nottingham West Junction and to Nottingham East Junction.^[43]:140 The blockade covered renewing 5.9 kilometres (3.7 mi) of track and adding or renewing 14 sets of pointwork.^[43]:140

Footbridge

The station as viewed from the car park to the south; the bridge carrying footpath 28 is mid-shot; beyond it work has just started on the new tram bridge

Halfway along the platforms is an overhead footbridge running from Station Street (at the north) and the tram stop link, over station platforms 1–5 to platform 6 and car parking facilities at Queen's Road (at the south).^[11]:2 The footbridge carries Footpath 28, the only traffic-free crossing over the Midland Main Line in Nottingham.^[45]:4 Footpath 28 was previously diverted from the demolished footbridge 21 to the present footbridge 20B during the 1990s. The original route formed part of the "Trent Bridge Footway"^[45]:4 carrying the public between the centre of Nottingham and the river crossing at Trent Bridge. In 2004 Nottingham City Council stated that right of way over the footbridge would be closed following the completion of a multi-storey car park.^[11]:4

Alternative pavement improvement works were scheduled for Queens Road in February 2009.^[35]:2 During 2008–2012 BPR Architects submitted designs for automated ticket gate (ATG) barrier installations at St Pancras, Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham station concourse plus both ends of Nottingham footbridge 20B.^[46]:2[47] BPR's design included four ATG barriers on the north end of the footbridge itself plus a new enclosure and four barriers between the car park and platform 6 at the south end.^[48][49] A procedure to permanently stop-up the right-of-way commenced on 19 March 2010,^[45]:1 A planning application for barriers was filed on 29 March 2010 and withdrawn again on 10 May 2010.^[50] Following a public inquiry held during 8–9 November 2011, the stopping up order was denied; the inspector summing up:^{[45]:8[51][52]}

Footpath 28 is unique and offers an experience which the alternative, replacement, route cannot – a traffic free route within the city which in addition provides a convenient link for a large number of users to and from residential areas, work places and other facilities. It provides a short but valued opportunity for pedestrians to get away from trafficked routes, with the added amenity value of an historic environment. On balancing the merits and demerits of the stopping up order, I find that the disadvantages and loss likely to arise as a result of the stopping up of the footpath to members of the public generally are such that permanent closure of Footpath 28 to the public is not justified. Thus I conclude that the Order should not be confirmed.

— Susan Doran BA Hons MIPROW, Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Decision Notice §44, 13 December 2011^[45]:8

The footbridge was scheduled to be closed temporarily in November 2017. The reason being given as both "making improvements" and "essential maintenance work".^[53][54]

New bridge and tram stop

The Nottingham Station tram stop, showing the former Station Street stop access tower (with NET logo) in the distance

In order to facilitate the Nottingham Express Transit's phase two extension into the south of the city, it was decided to have the tram line cross the station on the line of the original Great Central Railway viaduct that had been closed to passenger trains in 1967 and goods in 1973. This required a bridge, crossing from the existing Station Street stop, which closed, over both the station and Queen's Road.^{[11]:5,8[55][56]}

Construction of the tram bridge started on 10 April 2012, and the bridge was jacked into place in May 2013. The tram bridge design is a Warren truss design made of 508 to 711 mm (20.0 to 28.0 in) diameter steel tubes.^[57]:6 The main bridge is 14.53 m (47.7 ft) wide between the truss centrelines, with two equal spans of 52.12 m (171.0 ft). The bridge is officially called the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge, after Nottingham's twin city of Karlsruhe in Germany.^{[57]:6[58][59][60]}

The new Nottingham Station tram stop was constructed on the bridge, providing interchange with the railway network. It replaced the previous Station Street tram stop, opened in 2004, which was located approximately 100 m (330 ft) to the north. The new stop was opened on 27 July 2015 and the former stop closed at the same time, although the intention is to reopen the Station Street access building as a second access to the new stop once it has been refurbished. The new stop served as the new southern terminus of the system until the rest of NET's phase two opened, at which point it became a through station with trams continuing to new termini in Chilwell and Clifton.^{[12][61][61][62]}

2018 fire

On the morning of 12 January 2018 a fire extensively damaged the station buildings. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service had received a call at 06:25 reporting that a fire had started in the women's toilet in the newly-built section of the station.^[63] The fire was attended by ten fire engines and 50 firefighters. Firefighters from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service also attended bringing the total up to 60.^[64]

After the fire began, it spread upwards into the roof of the newly-built section of the station, and then along the station concourse, and into the historic station building.^[65][66] There was extensive disruption to trains in the East Midlands area.

British Transport Police stated later the same day that they were treating the fire as arson,^[67] and on 2 February 2018 police reported that a 33-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of arson.^[68]

On Monday 12 February, East Midlands Trains named one of their recently transferred Class 43 HST power cars (43467) 'Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service' and 'British Transport Police Nottingham' after their assistance during the fire. ^[69]

Layout

The concourse in the old porte-cochère

The station is aligned approximately east to west, at the southern edge of the city centre, with Station Street to the north and Queen's Road to the south. At the western end of the station, the tracks are spanned by Carrington Street, and the station's main entrance is on the eastern side of this street. Since the completion of the station redevelopment, the entrances from Carrington Street open into a concourse that spans the station from north to south. This occupies what was once the station's porte-cochère, and provides a large pedestrian circulation area, along with several retail sites.^{[11]:3–5[80]}

The ticket hall for the railway station opens off the centre of eastern side of the concourse, and in turn gives access via ticket barriers to a pedestrian overbridge with stairs and lifts down to the railway platforms. A second concourse opens off the main concourse at the southern end of its eastern side, and this runs parallel and to the south of the platforms, giving access by stairs, lifts and escalators to the tram stop, the station car park, taxi rank, vehicular pick-up and drop-off points and Queen Street. The tram stop spans the station from north to south to the east of the main entrance, at a higher level than the concourse, and to the east of that a second footbridge links the platforms and carries the previously referred to footpath 28.^{[11]:3–5[80]}

The station's multi-storey car park lies to the south of the platforms, to the north of Queen Street, and to the east of the tram bridge. It provides parking for around 800 cars, and the covered area below it houses the station's new taxi rank and pick-up and drop-off points, relocated from the old porte-cochère.^{[11]:3–5[80]}

Railway platforms

Platform 7 looking across to platform 6 (with train) and up to the concourse

The railway platforms lie at a lower level than the station entrance, and are within a ticket barrier enforced paid area. From north to south the station has two island platforms and a single side platform, with a total of seven numbered platform faces.^[81] Each platform is linked to both the main entrance concourse by stairs and lifts, and by stairs only to the second footbridge.^[80]

The northern of the two island platforms has a bi-directionally signalled through platform face on each side, numbered respectively 1 and 3, together with an east facing bay, numbered 2. The two through platforms are long enough to accommodate fifteen and fourteen coach trains respectively, whilst the bay can accommodate a four coach train.^[81]

The middle island platform also has bi-directionally signalled through platform faces on each side, numbered 4 and 6, together with a west-facing terminal platform face numbered 5. Platform 4 can accommodate a five coach train, platform 5 a seven coach train, and platform 6 a fourteen coach train.^[81]

Finally the southern side platform is numbered 7, and can accommodate a thirteen coach train. Sufficient space exists to the south of this platform to add a second platform face, effectively converting this side platform into an island platform, if traffic increases to justify it.^[11]:7[81]

Tram stop

Tram stop above; railway below

The new tram stop lies at a higher level than the station entrance, and at 90 degrees to railway platforms. It is designed as a through stop, with two side platforms flanking each side of the double track. Like all other NET stops, pedestrian access between the platforms is permitted on the level via crossings at each end of the platforms. Ticket machines are located on both platforms, and the stop lies outside the ticket barrier enforced paid area of the railway station.^[61]

The stop is connected directly to the railway station's main concourse, and thus the railway platforms, by the new side concourse, with stairs, escalators and lifts to bridge the height difference. A direct access is also provided to the station car park. The former access from Station Street has closed for refurbishment, but will reopen as a further entrance to the new stop, accessing it by a walkway parallel to the tracks.^[61]

To the north of the stop, the tracks pass over Station Street and through the abandoned platforms of the former Station Street stop, before proceeding along the old Great Central Main Line viaduct and eventually joining an on-street section through the centre of Nottingham. To the south of the new stop, the tracks pass over Queen Street before descending a ramp to ground level and rejoining the city's streets. The junction between the Clifton and Chilwell branches lies just beyond this point.^[82]

National Rail services

Current off-peak services (trains per hour or tph) from the station include:

• 1tph to London St Pancras (fast) via East Midlands Parkway, Leicester and Market Harborough (East Midlands Trains)
• 1tph to London St Pancras (slow) via Loughborough, Leicester, Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway (East Midlands Trains)^[83]
• 1tph to Liverpool Lime Street via Sheffield, Manchester Piccadilly and Warrington Central (East Midlands Trains)^[84]
• 1tph to Norwich via Grantham, Peterborough and Ely (East Midlands Trains)
• 2tph to Mansfield Woodhouse, with 1tph continuing to Worksop (East Midlands Trains)^[85]
• 1tph to Skegness via Boston (East Midlands Trains)^[86]
• 1tph to Leicester via Loughborough (East Midlands Trains)
• 1tph to Lincoln Central via Newark Castle (East Midlands Trains)^[87]
• 1tph to Matlock via Derby (East Midlands Trains)^[88]
• 2tph to Birmingham New Street via Derby with 1tph continuing to Cardiff Central via Newport (CrossCountry)^[89]
• 1tph to Leeds via Sheffield (Northern)^[90]

Preceding station		National Rail		Following station
Derby		CrossCountry Cardiff–Nottingham		Terminus
Beeston		CrossCountry Birmingham-Nottingham
		CrossCountry Nottingham to Bournemouth (Limited service, southbound only)
East Midlands Parkway		East Midlands Trains Midland Main Line		Terminus
				Langley Mill
Beeston		East Midlands Trains Midland Main Line		Terminus
				Lowdham
Loughborough		East Midlands Trains Leicester-Lincoln		Carlton
Beeston
Attenborough Limited Service
Ilkeston Limited Service		East Midlands Trains Liverpool-Norwich		Grantham
				Terminus
Loughborough Limited Service		East Midlands Trains Nottingham-Norwich		Terminus
Terminus		East Midlands Trains Nottingham-Skegness		Netherfield
Bulwell		East Midlands Trains Robin Hood Line		Terminus
Beeston		East Midlands Trains Derwent Valley Line		Terminus
Ilkeston		Northern Nottingham-Leeds		Terminus
Derby Limited Service		Northern Nottingham-Sheffield (via Derby)		Terminus

Nottingham Express Transit services

With the opening of NET's phase two, Nottingham station is now on the common section of the NET, where line 1, between Hucknall and Chilwell, and line 2, between Phoenix Park and Clifton, operate together. Trams on each line run at frequencies that vary between 4 and 8 trams per hour, depending on the day and time of day, combining to provide up to 16 trams per hour on the common section.^[82]