Newcastle Central Station Road Closures

2 June 2013, 07:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Work on a £20 million redevelopment of Newcastle's Central Station mean you can no longer drive past the entrance

The plans have been put in place to create an international transport hub with state of the art facilities for passengers, coaches, Metro, bus services and taxis.

The famous Portico archway will close permanently to vehicles at 7am on Sunday June 2nd as Network Rail and East Coast begin their improvement works to glaze the 150-year-old landmark and create new retail space inside the station.

Externally, the plan is also to dramatically improve the area at the front of the station including altering how people access the station.

There'll be wider footways, space for pavement cafes and improved pedestrian access to and from the station.

Direct pedestrian crossings will also be provided on Neville Street and lower Grainger Street.

A two way cycle track will be created at the west end of Neville Street, south of St Mary;s Cathedral and the flow of traffic at the front of the station will also be altered to ease congestion in the area, whilst maintaining the public transport links and drop off and collection points.

Taxis will no longer be able to enter the portico.

Instead they will continue to rank from Orchard Street with a pick-up area just to the east of the portico.

The £8.6m project to improve the inside of the station and its portico is being funded by the Department for Transport's Station Commercial Project Facility Fund.

For more information on the external works go here

How it will affect drivers 
* Private cars can still drive along Neville Street 
* Access to Royal Station Hotel and long stay station car park from Neville Street 
* Pick up and drop off area / short term parking area located to the west of the portico - accessed from Bewick Street via traffic signals. 
* No left turn into this area from Neville Street to ensure that any queues to access this area do no block Neville Street 

How it will affect pedestrians
* Crossing points will be provided on Neville Street for the duration of the works.
* Access points into/out of the portico will be managed by Network Rail/East Coast

How it will affect cyclists
* Will still be able to ride through the area and access Central Station
* Access points into/out of the portico will be managed by Network Rail

How it will affect taxis
* Hackney carriage pick up to the east of the portico
* Hackney carriage and private hire drop off to the west of the portico - accessed from Bewick Street via traffic signals.
* No left turn into this area from Neville Street to ensure that any queues to access this area do no block Neville Street
* Private hire pick up to the west of the portico - accessed from Bewick Street via traffic signals.
* No left turn into this area from Neville Street to ensure that any queues to access this area do no block Neville Street.
* Temporary waiting facilities to be arranged by Network Rail/East Coast.