Broken escalators at Birmingham New Street

[dvboy]

So I'm a commuter using Birmingham New Street and thought I'd share this with the forum and see if anyone has anything to comment or any insight.

In the last month I've tweeted the Network Rail account twelve times (so around three times a week) with examples of escalators not working or being turned on. I'm not going around the station trying to catch them out - this is genuinely when it's been the escalator I'm using to get to/from the platform my train is at.

Regular steps are bigger than stairs so it's more difficult walking up or down non-moving escalators, and they don't shift people off the platforms quickly which causes crowding which is especially a problem on platform level so I think my complaints are justified.

Most of the time they've just ignored me, but I did get the offer from a manager to have explained to me in person the efforts they are going through to resolve this problem.

I thought about this and decided that it's only fair that if they are going to explain to me, they should explain to the thousands of other people using the station and putting up with inadequate facilities that are fairly new, and therefore should be trouble free.

I suggested they write a blog or make a video, but they declined. "We don't use YouTube" was the answer. I said I would take up their offer of a 1-to-1 but only if I could video it to share with other commuters and they also declined. "We wouldn't participate in promoting externally," they said.

Their social media strategy seemed to be along the lines of using it to interact with customers, updating them on the all singing all dancing improvements, but when something negative comes their way they quickly want to take it offline.

I'm still none the wiser about why the escalators keep breaking down, or what they're doing to solve the problem, and will keep tweeting when I come across a broken one.

 

[rdeez]

I too have found broken escalators to be a frequent problem in the new station.

Or, more annoyingly, 'half working' escalators that stop suddenly mid-movement, causing everyone to lurch forward...

As it's not the same escalator every time, there's clearly some kind of problem - either with that particular model of escalator or the way they were installed. Sometimes even those that are working are making horrible screeching / grinding sounds.

Hopefully they are planning a permanent solution...

 

[Geezertronic]

Could it be the older escalators that will hopefully be replaced as part of the refurb or is it any new kit?

 

[dvboy]

None of the old escalators are in use anymore, they're all new(ish) ones.

 

[Camden]

Could it be that people are not using the escalators normally, following one after another?

I've used the station a few times and it's a case of everyone piling on, two or even sometimes three abreast on each and every step. Given how often trains arrive, that's a lot of times that much weight is placed at once for minutes at a time on each escalator.

Not saying that should happen, but maybe those heavy prolonged loads are causing the issue?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Possibly, but LUL escalators seem to cope with similar stress levels.

 

[Camden]

Possibly, but LUL escalators seem to cope with similar stress levels.

Different type, different fittings, different way they were fitted perhaps? (And also, even on the tube we don't tend to stand side by side two a step. It's one side standing single file, the other side walking. Birmingham NS's are more like crush loaded when I've been on them).

Who knows, but if they are going to continually break it will become embarrassing before long.

 

[Smethwickian]

Even when they're working the new escalators are not adequate to clear the platform when a busy rush-hour train arrives.

Crowd control staff (event stewarding types, hired in, not Network Rail staff) are having to be used, urging people to use both A and B ends on arrival.

At least under the old layout there was the option of stairs as well as 'up' escalators, which meant much greater capacity for peak arrival flows.

One can only hope that when the full new layout finally opens in the autumn that more people will spread themselves out via both exits.

 

[thecrofter]

Platform 8/9 B down escalator out of use again this afternoon

 

[Deerfold]

Different type, different fittings, different way they were fitted perhaps? (And also, even on the tube we don't tend to stand side by side two a step. It's one side standing single file, the other side walking. Birmingham NS's are more like crush loaded when I've been on them).

Who knows, but if they are going to continually break it will become embarrassing before long.

An escalator (or half of an escalator) has a higher load/stress on it when it is full of people walking than when it is full of people simply standing - certainly when it is going uphill.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Do the new escalators draw more power then the old ones?

 

[route:oxford]

Or are one or two individuals pressing the stop bottom for their own entertainment?

 

[Iskra]

I used Birmingham New Street on Wednesday and the escalator down to P8 was switched off. It did cross my mind as quite dangerous as it seemed quite a steep escalator with big 'steps'.

It's an accident and a claim waiting to happen.

 

[edwin_m]

Different type, different fittings, different way they were fitted perhaps? (And also, even on the tube we don't tend to stand side by side two a step. It's one side standing single file, the other side walking. Birmingham NS's are more like crush loaded when I've been on them).

Who knows, but if they are going to continually break it will become embarrassing before long.

Is it a new supplier by any chance, undercutting their compeitors with a product that is quite happy in the undemanding environment of a department store but not up to the higher loadings and tougher environment of a station?

 

[rdeez]

Or are one or two individuals pressing the stop bottom for their own entertainment?

No, this is not the issue. Several of them have been closed for repairs since installation.

 

[LouJ]

Every day at least one escalator down to or up from platform 4/5 is broken. This is a serious problem - probably under designed. They also cannot clear a platform quickly when a train arrives. Pathetic is the only description.

 

[thecrofter]

Both down escalators on platform 8/9 out of use at 16:25 today
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Down escalator on platform 8/9B out of use (again) at 16:45 today. Seems to be a regular problem with no sign of any remedial work and general apathy from the station

 

[jamesst]

Is it sad that I'm coming on this thread every day just to see which escalators aren't working?!

 

[40129]

Maybe someone should start running a book on which escalator will break down first and how early in the morning.

Seriously, I'm sure the new escalators are a lot less reliable than the old ones

 

[Rich McLean]

Or are one or two individuals pressing the stop bottom for their own entertainment?

Nail.On.Head

Been happening for years

EDIT: Just seen further posts

These days, with government funding, everything is costed, and the Best Value for money *Cough* Cheapest *Cough* option is taken. Normally 3 quotes, cheapest one is always taken.

A lot of private companies also over quote government departments and agencies for their work, because they can

 

[infobleep]

Nail.On.Head

Been happening for years

EDIT: Just seen further posts

These days, with government funding, everything is costed, and the Best Value for money *Cough* Cheapest *Cough* option is taken. Normally 3 quotes, cheapest one is always taken.

A lot of private companies also over quote government departments and agencies for their work, because they can

If they over quote, they don't get the work because the cheapest option has to be take these days.

 

[Rich McLean]

If they over quote, they don't get the work because the cheapest option has to be take these days.

Apart from those who have agreed "exclusive" contracts. However, that's more than likely not the case here, and the cheapest option was used

 

[Blindtraveler]

Dont worry guys, the new ones at Waverley still grunt, groan and break down and the new entrance opened a while back now!

 

[razor89]

The station I used to work at had escalators and they were generally quite reliable. If an accident occurred on a moving escalator, however, the escalator had to be switched off until it could be checked out by a maintenance operative for any faults. They also had to be switched off if too many "teeth" in the plates at the entrance/ exit were missing.

 

[dvboy]

According to their twitter account, the problem is with the drive chains, and new parts have been procured from the manufacturer with works programmed to replace them.

Meanwhile the problem of escalators not working gets worse, I was there yesterday and at least three were not working, but they were fine in the week - I wonder if some are being switched off at off-peak times in order to prolong their lifespan.

 

[w1bbl3]

Network rail have a group deal with the provider so expect to see the same basic units at most refurbishments. The unit is made in the far east and badged/tested locally.

TfL prefer a different supplier

 

[hallamhash]

Not been to New Street for a while, are people still not standing to the right on the escalators despite the reasonably clear signage?

 

[work-traveller]

Not been to New Street for a while, are people still not standing to the right on the escalators despite the reasonably clear signage?

At rush hour - mostly yes. But it just takes one person travelling in their own little bubble to plonk themselves on the left and stand there impeding those behind them.

The difference between New Street and the Underground in London is that on weekdays Londoners won't tolerate people standing on the left of escalators and will instantly tell them to move. In the provinces we're a little more reticent about such forthright actions.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Network rail have a group deal with the provider so expect to see the same basic units at most refurbishments. The unit is made in the far east and badged/tested locally.

TfL prefer a different supplier

I think that NR need to be looking at a new supplier then as the country is fast becoming littered with these poor qualitty shoddy products that are hopeless! Thank god there standard lift supply is reliable!

 

[rdeez]

I was at New Street last week and there were some new escalator steps / tracks sitting in a fenced off area on the concourse. They might be for new installations, or maybe more reliable replacements for the existing ones...hopefully it's the latter!