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Home » Case Studies » Restoring Lancaster Station: A Collaborative Effort in Heritage and Innovation
Twinfix supported the sensitive restoration of Lancaster Station’s Grade II listed platform canopies, delivering modern performance while preserving the station’s distinctive heritage character.
Lancaster Station—originally known as Lancaster Castle—is a historic landmark on the West Coast Main Line. Opened in 1846, it has served the city for over 175 years. The station underwent major remodelling in the early 1900s, gaining its distinctive mock-Elizabethan architecture and expanded facilities. Over the decades, it has adapted to changing rail needs, including electrification and rationalisation of track layouts.
In 2023, a significant investment was announced to restore the platform canopies—an essential part of the station’s character and function. The challenge: how to sympathetically restore the canopy glazing while meeting modern safety and building standards, all without compromising the station’s Grade II listed heritage. This wasn’t just a refurbishment—it was a shared mission to protect a piece of railway history.
To replicate the original Georgian wired glass, lightweight polycarbonate panels were selected—offering the appearance of traditional glazing with the strength and durability of modern materials. Over 100 integrated inspection hatches were included to support safe maintenance access.
The system was pre-assembled into panels off-site, reducing on-site handling and minimising working-at-height risks. The use of recyclable polycarbonate and aluminium also supported sustainability goals, aligning with the UK’s net-zero railway ambitions.
Working closely with Network Rail, Story Contracting, Orchard Roofing and Building and Seed Architects, the team took a joined-up approach—aligning design, safety, and heritage considerations from the outset. This collaborative ethos ensured that every decision supported the shared goal: restoring Lancaster Station as a proud gateway to the city.
The result is a station transformed. The restored canopies flood the platforms with natural light, provide shelter from the elements, and preserve the architectural integrity of this historic site. From a passenger’s perspective, the station feels brighter, safer, and more welcoming. From an operator’s viewpoint, the new system reduces maintenance costs, improves safety, and enhances long-term resilience.
But most importantly, the project stands as a testament to what can be achieved when teams come together with a shared vision.
The restored canopies flood the platforms with natural light
Provide shelter from the elements
Preserve the architectural integrity of this historic site
The station feels brighter, safer, and more welcoming
The new system reduces maintenance costs
Improves safety
Enhances long-term resilience
Supports sustainability goals, aligning with the UK’s net-zero railway ambitions
