GWML inner suburban transfer to tfl 10/12/2017

[Non Multi]

TRUG is no more AFAIK, the Marlow - Maidenhead Passengers' Association (MMPA) look after matters here.
I've seen the public PDF plans for the new footbridges on the line (this was done before the mishap with the rail-crane with the old Taplow footbridge), I recall that the layout of the footbridge lift on the central island platform would take advantage of the extra width available as platform 2 was decommissioned. I expect that raising the platform height would cost ££££.

 

[Non Multi]

This is the link to the PDF document I was referring to in my last post - http://content.tfl.gov.uk/accessibility-summary-report.pdf

 

[matt_world2004]

I do not know how low down the platforms are at Taplow but ealing broadways seem quite low on the fast platforms (Almost dangerously low)

The tfl document only specifies two lifts (I am guessing serving 2/3 and 4 which would appear to indicate platform 1 isnt going to be step free and platform 1 and 2 may not be used. Unless there is another step free acess route to either platforms 1 or platforms 4

 

[Non Multi]

I do not know how low down the platforms are at Taplow but ealing broadways seem quite low on the fast platforms (Almost dangerously low)

The tfl document only specifies two lifts (I am guessing serving 2/3 and 4 which would appear to indicate platform 1 isnt going to be step free and platform 1 and 2 may not be used. Unless there is another step free acess route to either platforms 1 or platforms 4

In the PDF plans, the recently removed 'heritage' footbridge was retained as it was the link to the south car park and entrance. The north side entrance with the ticket office building was intended to be the step-free entrance side. As there is now a need for a new bridge spanning all the lines, the new footbridge will probably be required to have a lift on the south entrance side as well. Not cheap.

 

[hassaanhc]

On Sunday the relief line platforms at Southall were gritted. However, all trains were stopping on the mains for most of the day, and these were still not gritted when I was at the station in the afternoon. Looks like whoever did the gritting failed to check first

 

[matt_world2004]

On Sunday the relief line platforms at Southall were gritted. However, all trains were stopping on the mains for most of the day, and these were still not gritted when I was at the station in the afternoon. Looks like whoever did the gritting failed to check first

Good job they didnt mix up at Hayes or Platform 1 would still be locked.

 

[SWT_USER]

Would be nice if TFL had some immediate influence on service provision - like giving Hanwell and Acton ML 4tph.

 

[matt_world2004]

Would be nice if TFL had some immediate influence on service provision - like giving Hanwell and Acton ML 4tph.

Interestingly, TfL have removed the may 2018 service provision for acton main line and Hanwell from the Crossrail website. Originally it was 4tph from hanwell and acton main line. Now both sections list a december 2019 start for both stations. Since TfL is taking over the complete acton main line and hanwell service in May 2018 It may be a case that both stations remain at 2tph until december 2019 which will be disappointing.

 

[387165]

I decided to walk down to Taplow station today and have a look around to see if any changes were made over the weekend:

• There's a tiny bit of New Johnston signage up with the station information enamel sign by the ticket office door, as well as one for the platform directions. They have prohibited alcohol consumption on the station. As the station is not manned for most of the day and all weekend, I doubt there's any way this rule can be strictly enforced at the moment.
• The rather tired 'double arrow' sign that used to hang off the ticket office building has gone.
• The station name signage (in Helvetica font) now have a blank white space where the station operator name should be.
• The timetable display is still GWR, there are TfL posters, one with station information, the other stating that a new footbridge with lifts will be built over the relief line only (Apparently there's an argument with NR, DfT and TfL as TfL is now required to build a fully accessible footbridge to completely replace the 1884 structure, which will now not be repaired).
• The temporary Bailey footbridge still retains its signs in the First GWR typeface.
• The car park is now managed by NCP.
• Much of the FGW blue on the station is now grey (primer?). A bit of the station woodwork round the Gents toilet is another shade of blue (TfL Rail blue?)
• The new ticket machine installed last week features a long vertical touchscreen. This now displays the TfL Rail user interface, this consists of 3 main options: next train info, ticket purchase/collection and a London Connections map that handily is centred on the TfL Rail line out of Liverpool Street! The westernmost station shown is Slough. A sticker on the machine states that you can use Oyster (however as there's only a round blanking piece on the machine for a oyster reader, I doubt this is true yet). Another sticker states the machine is card payment only (with a contactless reader), like the one it replaced, but the coin slot is not blanked off. I found the user interface a bit slower than on the old S&B machine it replaced. I also couldn't find Maidenhead (the next station to the west) in the popular destinations menu, so had to type it in.

Yeah I noticed the resignage. I use taplow frequently on weekdays

 

[paulravuslante]

Well here’s progress at West Drayton. The Oyster pad on the ticket machine has been removed and the station seems to have acquired a beggar. This is despite a great visibility of staff.

 

[matt_world2004]

Well here’s progress at West Drayton. The Oyster pad on the ticket machine has been removed and the station seems to have acquired a beggar. This is despite a great visibility of staff.

Ok, I will go down to west drayton myself, take some pictures and try and raise it up with someone in TfL . Ridiculous they have taken the oyster readers off the ETMs I dont suppose you know if the ticket offices do Oyster topup?

 

[Non Multi]

Ok, I will go down to west drayton myself, take some pictures and try and raise it up with someone in TfL . Ridiculous they have taken the oyster readers off the ETMs I dont suppose you know if the ticket offices do Oyster topup?

The shop outside next to the ticket hall exit is an Oyster ticket stop - 'West Drayton Grocers & News'.

 

[matt_world2004]

The shop outside next to the ticket hall exit is an Oyster ticket stop - 'West Drayton Grocers & News'.

I live nearby so will not be taking the train.I was asking because I was curious if it was like the east Anglia tfl rail stations that have staffed ticket offices. And oyster topup from them.

 

[paulravuslante]

I live nearby so will not be taking the train.I was asking because I was curious if it was like the east Anglia tfl rail stations that have staffed ticket offices. And oyster topup from them.

They have had a new system installed in the ticket office but I don’t top up so not sure if they do Oyster. They removed the notice that says they don’t so I guess they may do top up now. However there is only ever one window open and the opening hours don’t always reflect what it said at the entrance with staff closing for breaktimes or change overs. When it is open the queue can build quickly.

 

[matt_world2004]

Well here’s progress at West Drayton. The Oyster pad on the ticket machine has been removed and the station seems to have acquired a beggar. This is despite a great visibility of staff.

They have for some reason removed the stickers on the oyster machine at Hayes and Harlington but you can still top up oyster cards even though the oyster pad is flashed red. It might be the same at west drayton. I cannot see the machine so do not know.

 

[paulravuslante]

They have for some reason removed the stickers on the oyster machine at Hayes and Harlington but you can still top up oyster cards even though the oyster pad is flashed red. It might be the same at west drayton. I cannot see the machine so do not know.

No I passed it this morning and the Oyster option on the screen is blanked out as well as the reader having been removed. However a small notice confirms you can top up at the ticket office now or the shop next door.

Today no staff patrolling and no beggar. It beggars belief!

 

[Non Multi]

I've uploaded a image of what Rail for London (TfL Rail) wanted to build in the main entrance of Burnham Station. It's from a 2015 Slough Council meeting document mainly detailing the various changes to the traffic flow around the station. There's very little about the station rebuild aside from a few paragraphs:

Picture: The existing station platform building is to the top left of the proposed ticket hall/gateline building (shaded in orange), which would be built in the station forecourt.

Burnham Train Station Environment -

It is proposed to develop the approach road leading to the Burnham Train Station entrance to compliment the works being undertaken by Rail for London. Rail for London are proposing to build a new station building with gate lines, a new ticket hall, an access for all lift, enhanced travel information, CCTV and security. A mock-up of the new station building can be seen in appendix A (shaded in orange), which also includes a second new structure which has yet to be confirmed (shaded in green). This second structure could potentially incorporate a lift linking the upper level car park and the new ticket hall which will improve accessibility for disabled drivers and vulnerable road users. If this is not approved, accessibility can still be improved by providing PRM parking on the approach road, which will bring vulnerable and disabled drivers closer to the station entrance.

In order to maximise the space available, the Council have inquired into who has ownership of the ‘wooded’ area on the southern side of the approach road. This land is owned by a private individual as Network Rail sold it a number of years ago. The Council are working on contacting the individual to request permission to develop the land, however to date all approaches have been unsuccessful. There is however the opportunity to develop the shrubbery on the northern side of the approach road, which is under the ownership of Network Rail. This will enable the road to be widened to accommodate a number of new facilities such as PRM parking, cycle parking and the relocation of the cycle hire (facility) from Burnham Lane.

Additionally, it is proposed to convert a section of green land to the east of Station Road bridge to a car park. With the additional restrictions being placed on Littlebrook Avenue and the anticipated increase in demand for rail services at Burnham Station, an additional car park will increase parking capacity and help facilitate these additional rail journeys. This will be a Council run pay and display car park, operating a tariff similar to that at Burnham Station. The initial designs show that parking capacity can be increased by 30-40 spaces.

 

[Malcolmffc]

Ok, I will go down to west drayton myself, take some pictures and try and raise it up with someone in TfL . Ridiculous they have taken the oyster readers off the ETMs I dont suppose you know if the ticket offices do Oyster topup?

Presumably part of TfL’s plan to persuade people to switch to Contactless from Oyster (which to be fair is a much more convenient option)

 

[matt_world2004]

Presumably part of TfL’s plan to persuade people to switch to Contactless from Oyster (which to be fair is a much more convenient option)

Its mors likely that mtr forgot that oyster is valid from west drayton station and that they are delaying oyster enabled etms to the stations beyond zone 6 to avoid confusing the public until oyster is actually valid there.

 

[pacenotes]

Well here’s progress at West Drayton. The Oyster pad on the ticket machine has been removed and the station seems to have acquired a beggar. This is despite a great visibility of staff.

They did paint the under pass under the station and stop the stairs to platform 1 smelling of wee. To give them some credit

 

[AlanFry1]

I'm a little confused - how come this take over doesn't reflect on the TFL site or maps?

 

[matt_world2004]

I'm a little confused - how come this take over doesn't reflect on the TFL site or maps?

Because no tfl services call at these stations currently except ealing Broadway

 

[AlanFry1]

So there hasn't been a takeover yet?

 

[Non Multi]

On the TfL website is a list of the new TfL managed stations: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tfl-managed-stations?intcmp=51511
This page is a useful introduction to the phased launch of services on the line: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/countdown-to-launch

 

[AlanFry1]

On the TfL website is a list of the new TfL managed stations: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tfl-managed-stations?intcmp=51511
This page is a useful introduction to the phased launch of services on the line: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/countdown-to-launch

Thanks! Thread title should be changed mind. Was a bit confused.

 

[matt_world2004]

So there hasn't been a takeover yet?

No there has, tfl have taken over the operation of inner suburban train stations between Acton Mainline and Taplow (Excluding slough)

 

[The Quincunx]

The woodwork at West Ealing is being repainted (undercoat/primer only so far). There are makeshift signs in TfL font on the platforms. And I suspect the Network South East sign above the entrance will disappear shortly.

 

[hassaanhc]

The woodwork at West Ealing is being repainted (undercoat/primer only so far). There are makeshift signs in TfL font on the platforms. And I suspect the Network South East sign above the entrance will disappear shortly.

It probably will. The partially hidden one at Southall (underneath the newer "Thank you for travelling with First Great Western sign at the entrance) disappeared when the FGW sign was removed, and I failed to take a photo of it beforehand

Its mors likely that mtr forgot that oyster is valid from west drayton station and that they are delaying oyster enabled etms to the stations beyond zone 6 to avoid confusing the public until oyster is actually valid there.

Could the machine simply have been vandalised?

They did paint the under pass under the station and stop the stairs to platform 1 smelling of wee. To give them some credit

I think the painting has been the best bit of the takeover so far Southall was definitely in need of TLC and it looks nicer now. Having said that, they did cover over all the windows in the ticket hall so now you can't see in/out (both towards the road outside and towards the platforms)

 

[matt_world2004]

The woodwork at West Ealing is being repainted (undercoat/primer only so far). There are makeshift signs in TfL font on the platforms. And I suspect the Network South East sign above the entrance will disappear shortly.

West ealing only got painted recently in GwR Green

 

[59CosG95]

West ealing only got painted recently in GwR Green

Somewhere, in GWR's painting contractor's office, a table has probably been upended.