Morpeth Will Be Proud of New Look Station... Steven Hughes

Morpeth Morpeth Train Station Train Station first being mooted. “Railway projects, “A lot of the time with buildings such projects such as this we have to look at such as Morpeth station, are relatively as Morpeth Railway Station you have to how they fit in with what else might be Morpeth will be proud of new rare and other than heritage railways look beyond what is there to see what the going on in an area and consider whether very few have been supported with potential is and what investing in it could they are a strategic fit; who else is signed funding,” he said. bring by way of economic advantages to up to what is happening plus whether the an area as well as the benefits for visitors local community is also behind what is “They can be problematic which is a look station... Steven Hughes and the local community. being proposed.” nice way to put it, because they not easy projects to work on.” “That is where our funding can make Mr Hughes admitted there were times such a difference to a lot of projects like when doubt was cast over whether the Morpeth could perhaps have been a case “Brilliant!” That was the reaction of The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Senior this because without it they would simply project would ever get off the ground which fell into that category because it is a not stack up. It costs more money to but he added: “We never wanted to take a Investment Manager Steven Hughes when he recently toured Morpeth Railway Station to busy East Coast Main Line northern halt bring them back into use than they will step back and withdraw potential funding see for himself the work being done to give the town’s Victorian station a new lease of between London and Edinburgh which be worth but at the end of the day they and the fact that we all pressed on shows meant, for instance, that scaffolding had are important historic buildings and life at the start of the second decade of the 21st Century writes Ian Leech. the value we attached to the project to be put up and dismantled during the that is why we introduced the heritage because we could see the importance of it night over three weekends when the enterprise programme. to Morpeth. power was cut off to the track. “A building such as Morpeth Railway Accompanied by Doug Phillips (Chairman) “Ultimately, we wanted to see the station Space was also tight for construction Station is not only a vital facility for and David Lodge (Chief Executive Officer) project happen and support the vision crews to work in, and at the same time local people to use but is a gateway of Greater Morpeth Development Trust and determination of the Trust to make it (GMDT) which is leading the partnership safety-wise they had to be very aware of into the town for visitors and the first happen, and now it is nearing completion to repair, restore, conserve and preserve the numbers of travellers boarding and impression they will now get when they it looks amazing.” the original characteristics of the historic alighting trains at Morpeth. arrive here is of a beautifully restored, railway station, Mr Hughes visited marvellously historic old building. “This is the first time I have walked As Mr Hughes said, however, what swung Morpeth as work is nearing completion Even looking out of a carriage window around the station for a little while and the decision to grant lottery funding on the transformational project. as a train passes through, the visual the changes are just brilliant and what Morpeth’s way was that – in his words – impression passengers will see is of an has been done has totally transformed After his tour he was confident to be able the project ‘simply stacked up!’ impressive entrance to the town. what was here before. A lot of the time to tell me: “Morpeth is definitely going to “The impact a project like this can make when you return to projects such as this be proud of what is being achieved at the “Often a station is the first thing people on a building that has been left more or it is hard to picture what was here before town’s station.” see when they arrive somewhere and if less empty and neglected for a long time, it looks a bit run-down and neglected it and that is the case here. Now the station The Heritage Fund, using money can be amazing when its full potential is can immediately put into your mind is the looks so different and so vastly improved raised by National Lottery players, is taken into consideration,” he said. rest of the town like that as well! With from when I first saw it. It is just terrific!” the biggest single funder of the station revamp that is costing £2.2 million, giving a development grant and then a full award of £790.000. Other significant New extended hours for the station ticket office supporters of the station include the as well as one on the platform users – inside what will be guards van. Railway Heritage Trust, Northumberland Lottery Heritage Fund Senior Investment Manager Steven Hughes giving his back to the work now nearing Among the prime completion at Morpeth Railway Station that passengers will still be a station reception area and County Council, North East Rural Growth beneficiaries of Kerry Peters, Northern Head able to use any time of the day waiting room in the improved Network, train and track operators the work nearing of Trains & Stations, says she Northern and Network Rail. or night. main building, and, of course, completion to for the first time a café selling believes the new facilities will However, the lottery investment proved modernise Morpeth’s Two new Arriva Rail North hot drinks and snacks once an be welcomed by travellers to be the catalyst for drawing in the other railway station as members of staff who will operator has been secured. when the new-look station is funders who each had their own reasons well as preserving be running the ticket office open. for investing in the station’s preservation as Station Supervisors are Outside in the forecourt of the its Victorian charm station which will be a private “Together, they will make and conservation whilst all buying Wendy Howie and Michael car park for the office tenants, travelling through Morpeth into the Trust’s vision of developing a and character, will, Herring. and a dedicated taxi office is Railway Station, a much better transport hub that is fit-for-purpose for of course, be the There will be new toilets – also being built in the unusual experience for passengers,” modern rail travellers as well as being a travelling public using including one for disabled style of an American caboose she said. gateway to the town that Morpeth can be trains to get to and proud of. from the town. The station is a Grade II Listed Because among the improved Building that was designed by the facilities for passengers will renowned architect Benjamin Green be a new ticket office that for the Newcastle & Berwick Railway will be open extended hours, Company with the first trains calling Original fireplaces from when the station opened in 1846 have been retained modern toilets and a café. there from 1846. waiting to serve them for the first time; completed in just a few weeks time Currently the ticket office The partnership has been at pains to new toilets including one for disabled followed by the confirmation of tenants to is open from early morning ensure as much of the old building as users; and a dedicated ticket office while occupy the offices and an operator to run until lunchtime, but once the possible, has been faithfully restored station work is completed to its original Green design including un-used rooms have been transformed the station café. passengers will able to buy re-instating the 15 tall chimneys which into much-needed office space for up to Mr Hughes who has been the Heritage a ticket over the counter externally gave the station its distinctive seven small businesses. A caboose-style Fund’s case officer at the station from 6.30am until 5.30pm. appearance, as well as re-opening its building in the station forecourt will also throughout the project, told me he initially There will also be two ticket grand portico entrance. be occupied as a taxi office. visited Morpeth when the idea machines inside the reception Morpeth Station manager Sarah Kennedy is pictured with new Station Supervisor Wendy Howie and Betty Greener, who Internally travellers will find a café Work at the station is expected to be of refurbishing its main building, was area of the new-look station, has just retired after working in the ticket office for many years. Michael Herring was unavailable for the photograph. 12 inside Morpeth inside Morpeth 13.

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