The success of the team behind work undertaken at Newcastle was reflected on Wednesday 6 April when the plaque awarded at the 2015 National Railway Heritage Awards in December was officially unveiled. The London Underground Operational Enhancement Award, which is given for the scheme that demonstrates the greatest improvement in user accessibility while still sustaining the location’s heritage features, was made to Newcastle to reflect the vastly improved facilities offered to passengers through the careful glazing in of the station’s massive porte-cochère and work undertaken on the concourse and platform areas. The unveiling of the plaque was undertaken by Mike Ashworth, Design and Heritage Manager of London Underground, in front of invited guests.
From left to right, Tim Hedley-Jones, Major Projects Director of Virgin Trains East Coast, Mike Ashworth, Design and Heritage Manager of plaque sponsor London Underground Ltd, and John Ellis, chairman of the NRHA, stand in front of the newly unveiled plaque at Newcastle on Wednesday 6 April. The eagle-eyed will notice that the new plaque stands directly beneath the plaque awarded for heritage fencing installed at the station awarded in 2011.