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The first of three new escalators at Haymarket Metro station entered passenger service today as the £20m redevelopment of the station really starts to take shape just a year after the works first started. The escalator, which has replaced the staircase at Haymarket, is first new escalator to be installed since the station opened in 1980. The other two escalators are going to be replaced and that work is now underway. When the work at Haymarket is completed later next year their will be three new escalators in operation. Director General of Nexus, Bernard Garner, said: “The new escalator going in at Haymarket underlines the good progress that’s been made since the development started. “It is now vital that we replace the other two remaining escalators as they have been there at Haymarket since the early 1980s. They are pretty worn out after all these years and now the right time to install new ones. “When the project is finished passengers can look forward to seeing three escalators in service at the station.” Haymarket is being transformed from its 1970s design to a modern four-storey glass and steel building with shops, bars, restaurants and office space. Work on the site started last summer and the contractors, Tolent, are now in the process of erecting the steel structure around the existing station. The Haymarket scheme, led by private developer 42nd Street Hub, will see the station completely rebuilt with a new four-storey building above the concourse and improved passenger facilities at ground level and below. The development includes the lift replaced and a third escalator installed along with new ticket machines and electronic barriers and an exciting new look for the concourse and platform areas. Work is scheduled to be completed in late 2009. Haymarket is used by around six million Metro passengers every year and is one of the busiest stations in the north of England. It is a gateway to the Northumberland Street shopping area, two universities, Newcastle’s main hospital and city centre attractions. Nexus has already unveiled a distinctive new look for the concourse and platform areas at Haymarket station and work on this aspect of the project is also ongoing. The design features new curved walls and ceilings creating a more open, brighter and better waiting environment. The new look for Haymarket will serve as a blueprint for other city centre stations as Nexus takes forward its £600 million Metro re-invigoration plans to modernise the whole network. The rebuilding of Haymarket forms part of ambitious plans by Nexus to modernise the whole Metro network over the next 20 years – the Metro Re-invigoration project. More than £50 million is being invested in the next two years on projects including Haymarket, the refurbishment of platforms at Sunderland, the new station at Simonside (opened March 2008) and improvements to all 90 Metro trains.
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