London Bridge reconstruction works

[Mikey C]

You can say the same thing about escalators. The Island platforms get two pairs so 2 up 2 down at any time. The terminus ones get a single one.

Well from the Island platforms you have to go down the escalators to exit, whereas from the terminus one you can go straight on

Indeed before the rebuild there were 2 ways to exit platforms 1-6, the ramp at the end, or the staircase to the overbridge

 

[ijmad]

Indeed before the rebuild there were 2 ways to exit platforms 1-6, the ramp at the end, or the staircase to the overbridge

I lost count of the number of times I was shoulder-barged by people running up the ramp for their train home when I was heading down for interchange to Southern after working in Walbrook (after the footbridge was partially demolished in 2012-13). Suppose I could have walked to London Bridge, but not everyone has time.

 

[jopsuk]

With the number of lifts, an assessment will have been done regarding forecast numbers that actually need lifts (limited mobility, wheelchairs, large luggage, pushchairs, bikes) versus cost. Clearly that came out, for the terminal platforms as "one is fine".
If you've got space, then a fairly large lift is a good idea. eg ts causes a lot less issues if you install one that bikes don't have to be placed diagonally in.

so Platform 1 therefore, because it can, gets the same lift as that one lift for the terminal platforms. Because 1/6th of a lift would have been silly.

 

[spinba11]

As someone who relies on lifts as far as I’m concerned 1 lift isn’t fine because when that one lift stops working I’m stuck.

 

[Chrisgr31]

I do agree, although many of the passengers in the front half of a terminating train would surely walk off the platform through the gates to the Shard concourse, which is a lot of extra capacity. Plus also, clearing a through platform quickly is surely much more important, since you don't want a crowd deep enough to be on the wrong side of the yellow line when the train starts to move 30 seconds after passengers disembark. On a terminal platform, at 20tph across six platforms, you've got a good 5-6 minutes to clear the crowd before the train needs to move out again.

Although it is a fair enough point getting from the Upper Concourse to the toilets and back for example can be a right pain, or if one wants to visit one of the retail outlets on the lower concourse. I know more are due upstairs but reailers no doubt pay a lot of rent for units in the station and I suspect they are told that x passengers pass through the station per year. I doubt they are told x passengers pass through the station per year but y wont come anywhere near you as getting between the levels is too difficult!

Its also difficult to buy a ticket on the upper concourse, not even sure its possible at the moment. Its not helped by the stepped barrier line at the upper level which means doubling back on yourself.

 

[tsr]

As someone who relies on lifts as far as I’m concerned 1 lift isn’t fine because when that one lift stops working I’m stuck.

But there's more than one lift. There are two - one on the "paid" side, and one not. Plus, if the worst came to the worst, there's a longwinded step-free access route via the street.

 

[swt_passenger]

But there's more than one lift. There are two - one on the "paid" side, and one not. Plus, if the worst came to the worst, there's a longwinded step-free access route via the street.

Indeed, and if every ‘single’ lift on the network had to have a parallel duplicate in case of failure how many hundred extra would be needed?

 

[ijmad]

Indeed, and if every ‘single’ lift on the network had to have a parallel duplicate in case of failure how many hundred extra would be needed?

You'd need five more at London Bridge just for starters (if every through platform island needed a backup).
Honestly I'm surprised no-one has invented a button to flatten out 3 or 4 escalator steps to take up a pushchair or wheelchair.
Seems like this would provide a good backup option at least.

 

[tsr]

You'd need five more at London Bridge just for starters (if every through platform island needed a backup).
Honestly I'm surprised no-one has invented a button to flatten out 3 or 4 escalator steps to take up a pushchair or wheelchair.
Seems like this would provide a good backup option at least.

The button is easy, it's the mechanism that could be a bit tricky...

 

[Chrisgr31]

The button is easy, it's the mechanism that could be a bit tricky...

Possibly easier to have a platform that wheels on the escalator and clips in, then as the step goes up it has some legs on the back that get raised and dragged until they are on the step 3 or 4 steps down, at the top it slides off the top step and legs compress as the base comes up.

If that makes sense! However still not easy!

 

[ijmad]

Looks like the first 700 ran through London Bridge P5 last night.
Based on the blind, it may have also run through the Canal Tunnels!
https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/949232358263279616

 

[greatkingrat]

That photo is from the 1st Jan, not last night. London Bridge through platforms were still under possession then, so it certainly won't have been in passenger service.

 

[ijmad]

That photo is from the 1st Jan, not last night. London Bridge through platforms were still under possession then, so it certainly won't have been in passenger service.

Hah, good point, yes January 1st, it even says so in the tweet, I fail at reading obviously.

Well they're nice photos anyways.

 

[Chrisgr31]

But there's more than one lift. There are two - one on the "paid" side, and one not. Plus, if the worst came to the worst, there's a longwinded step-free access route via the street.

Ironically the lift on the non-ticket side was out of order today. Of course once you are at it, if coming from the upper side its quite a long way to the alternatives, especially if you were on your way to the ticket office.

 

[FOH]

I noticed this evening from the lower level concourse that all the departure displays by the platform stairs/escalators were either blank or covered over, except bizarrely Platform 15. It felt very weird heading for a platform without any visible confirmation that it truely was the one you wanted. Anyone know what’s going on?

 

[ijmad]

I noticed this evening from the lower level concourse that all the departure displays by the platform stairs/escalators were either blank or covered over, except bizarrely Platform 15. It felt very weird heading for a platform without any visible confirmation that it truely was the one you wanted. Anyone know what’s going on?

They removed the ones at the bottom of P10, P11/12 and P13/14 for a while, leaving only the P6/7, P8/9 and P15 one before putting them all back over the Christmas works. Maybe they're still unhappy with whatever they were doing that was wrong with them before. Could be a tech problem or a crowd-flow problem I guess?

 

[Bromley boy]

I’m glad the layout is protected by TPWS

Incredibly, not all of it is! I was brought down to a red* in that area today. To my astonishment, no grids, I could have barrelled onto the back of the train ahead, if I hadn’t been sufficiently on the ball.

Driver skill is still a thing, in 2017, for those who believe ATO = driverless. Which it really doesn’t...

*some seriously dubious regulation happening in that area at the moment - presumably as the new three bridges panels find their feet...

 

[Sunset route]

2T27 09:54 ex Bedford to Three Bridges

and

2T36 12:29 ex Three Bridges to Bedford

Are the first passenger carrying trains to use the route via London Bridge, from Tuesday to Friday this week (although I didn’t see them run yesterday).

 

[FOH]

They removed the ones at the bottom of P10, P11/12 and P13/14 for a while, leaving only the P6/7, P8/9 and P15 one before putting them all back over the Christmas works. Maybe they're still unhappy with whatever they were doing that was wrong with them before. Could be a tech problem or a crowd-flow problem I guess?

I'm pretty sure the 6/7 and 8/9 are powered but whatever they're displaying has been covered over by white plastic strips

 

[physics34]

2T27 09:54 ex Bedford to Three Bridges

and

2T36 12:29 ex Three Bridges to Bedford

Are the first passenger carrying trains to use the route via London Bridge, from Tuesday to Friday this week (although I didn’t see them run yesterday).

Thanks. Managed to get on board. Feels odd... been too long!

 

[ijmad]

Thanks. Managed to get on board. Feels odd... been too long!

Where did the train wait for its route through to Blackfriars? I'm assuming it didn't make a passenger call at London Bridge.

 

[physics34]

Where did the train wait for its route through to Blackfriars? I'm assuming it didn't make a passenger call at London Bridge.

No.it didnt. it waited on the spur (blackfriars jct??) For a few mins

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G79130/2018/01/09/advanced

 

[Validation]

No.it didnt. it waited on the spur (blackfriars jct??) For a few mins

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G79130/2018/01/09/advanced

Also held just before New Cross Gate, coming off the Down Sussex Fast.
Did my bit in terms of signalling the first passenger service to take this new route

 

[ijmad]

Bodes well for journey time improvements in the eventual timetable.

 

[Bromley boy]

2T27 09:54 ex Bedford to Three Bridges

and

2T36 12:29 ex Three Bridges to Bedford

Are the first passenger carrying trains to use the route via London Bridge, from Tuesday to Friday this week (although I didn’t see them run yesterday).

I saw what must have been 2T27 on the down outside London Bridge - mighty strange seeing a 700 between the Charing + and Cannon St lines, but that’s a sight we will soon be very used to!

 

[387star]

Amazing how long a route so short you could walk it in 15min has been closed three -four years

Anyone having to endure the diversion on a daily basis should be awarded a medal

 

[Bromley boy]

Amazing how long a route so short you could walk it in 15min has been closed three -four years

Anyone having to endure the diversion on a daily basis should be awarded a medal

Awarded a medal for doing a 15 minute walk?

 

[ijmad]

Amazing how long a route so short you could walk it in 15min has been closed three -four years

Anyone having to endure the diversion on a daily basis should be awarded a medal

It's 1.2 miles from London Bridge to the north side at Blackfriars, which is more like a 25 minute walk at average brisk walking speed.

 

[ijmad]

Some observations I've been collecting from this week:

- A large Pret-a-Manger has opened on the lower concourse, because apparently two Neros and a Costa is not enough, and crossing Tooley St to get to the Pret right opposite the main entrance is just too far when you're in desperate need of sweet lady caffeine.

- There is a surprising amount of waterproof sheeting attached to the bottoms of the bridge decks (particularly the areas above the shops) where I assume some sort of finishing panels are meant to eventually go. It seems there's been a lot of fiddling with the finishing panels so I wonder what the problem is.

- The hoardings on Platform 15 are still up in the area past the stairwell. Maybe one day this area will be finished off, but not yet. Not yet.

- Platform 1 looked pretty narrow when it was being built but is actually about the same width as 1/2 to 2/3rds of the other islands, and the part adjacent to the stairs seems about the same width as other similar areas too.

- For Cannon Street services, it seems the platform allocation for off peak is to have 1 go 'down' and 2&3 go 'up' (so breaking the pattern for the evening peak when 1&2 are 'down'). I am fairly sure this used to be the other way around in the old station (1&2 were 'down' and 3 was 'up' for most of the day except the morning peak), but I guess this makes more sense given 2&3 is the island now, rather than 1&2.

- I wonder what the point of Stainer Street is, given you can just walk through the unpaid side of the ticket hall to get from Tooley Street to St Thomas Street anyway. Maybe for times the station is closed, for engineering works, or just at 3am?

- There are 71 ticket gates on the lower concourse, more or less. That sure is a lot.

- Some of the 'next train' signs at the bottom of the staircases now appear to be working, but some don't. Several that were previously working have now stopped working.

Overall, I rather like the finished product. It's an effort of compromise and pragmatism to a certain degree, but it sure is a good one, and is now a rather unique station on the network compared to the other London terminals.

 

[Verulamius]

I noticed that yesterday some of the Charing Cross to Slade Green empties around 9am were routed through the Thameslink platform 4. A temporary routing I would have thought as the full Thameslink timetable would not have the capacity for such trains?