Network Rail provide update on Northwich station ticket office

Progress on the restoration of the station platform has been slow since the collapse of the gable wall and part of a roof canopy in May 2021.

Last month, Network Rail said the fit-out of the rebuilt ticket office had been pushed back until September 2025.

However, at a meeting with Mid Cheshire MP Andrew Cooper, operator Northern and the Office of Road and Rail on Friday (November 1), the public body said they were working to bring this date forward ‘significantly’.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Cooper said: “I am pleased with the outcomes agreed on by all parties.

“I thank Network Rail, the ORR and Northern for sending senior representatives to Northwich to listen to the concerns of the community about the speed with which repairs are being undertaken, and to take on board the lessons from the serious, shocking incident three years ago.

“Network Rail explained the actions they have taken to improve and change their procedures since the gable end collapsed and I am satisfied lessons have been thoroughly learned.

“At the meeting, Network Rail advised that they are now looking at September 2025 as their ‘fallback’ date for the fit-out of the ticket office after I previously expressed unhappiness at the speed with which this was taking.

“They are now intending to look at contracting someone who specialises in retail fitouts should their framework agreement enable this, which would allow them to significantly bring forward the start date.”

A Network Rail spokesperson added: “We understand the importance of restoring the ticket office at Northwich station and following the meeting with Andrew Cooper, we fully echo his points, and we continue to do everything we can to bring the date for the internal fit of Northwich station forward.”

READ MORE: 'No further action' over station collapse as ticket office reopening delayed to 2025

The gable wall and part of a roof canopy collapsed in May 2021 (Image: CFRS)

An ORR report published earlier this year found that the collapse on May 18, 2021, had been caused by ‘inadequate management of vegetation’.

However, the regulator decided not to bring any prosecution in relation to the incident but said it would hold Network Rail to account.

An ORR spokesperson said: “At our meeting on Friday, we reaffirmed that ORR continues to hold Network Rail to account for implementing the requirements of our recommendations, including acting on the deficiencies we found with the examination and defect management arrangements for its buildings.”

During the meeting, Northern confirmed that the station is now staffed again to provide passenger assistance on the platform, with improvements earmarked for the portacabin welfare facility.

An update on this is due in the next four weeks.

MP Andrew Cooper says 'lessons have been learned' following the station collapse (Image: Andrew Cooper)

Network Rail meanwhile said that inspections found ther may have been an error in the original construction of the station by the Cheshire Lines Committee, with the gable end not tied into the roof as would be expected in this type of building.

Other issues covered during the meeting covered improved accessibility, which Mr Cooper said he will continue to pursue Government support for in Parliament, and plans to increase the Mid Cheshire Line’s capacity to two trains per hour.

Mr Cooper added: “Poor transport links are the single biggest barrier to economic growth in Mid Cheshire, and I'm determined to address it.”