Access from National Rail to the Underground

[3141]

Some of these problems are inevitable, as there is a finite amount of space above and below ground - especially below. When the Victoria Line was built there were several opportunities for cross-platform (which they renamed "same-level") interchange, where the new line and the existing one were running more or less in the same direction. But not at Green Park, where to achieve same-level interchange would have required two big curves in the Victoria Line. When a third line arrives at an interchange it is almost impossible for it to interchange easily with the two already there. As more underground structures are built it becomes increasingly difficult to construct the running tunnels for a new line in exactly the place which would provide the most convenient interchanges. As mentioned upthread, some new interchange routes are built so as to provide one-way systems and reduce overcrowding. If the existing route, which may date from fifty to over one hundred years ago, was built in a straight line, the additional one very likely has to be less direct, because there are now other underground structures in the way.

If you are fit this may just be annoying or boring (as at Kings Cross, in my opinion). If you can only move slowly it must be very frustrating, and in some cases may make your journey very difficult. Installing travellators may help - notably lacking at Kings Cross, but then you need a machine room and there may not be room for it with everything else that's below ground.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Mar 2022 ==

Surely. All the descriptions in the architectural press around the year 2000 when the JLE opened, and they went on about "dreary grey walls" at stations, and "utilitarian paving slabs" for the platform surfaces - when they were getting their design awards for something which made the passengers walk twice as far, and cost four times as much. Try Architects' Journal for then.

They were dead right about the walls - "Jubilee Line gloom", I call it.

 

[Taunton]

They were dead right about the walls - "Jubilee Line gloom", I call it.

I may have misled you; I was describing comments, when the JLE opened, about the Victoria Line, and how the JLE was somehow incomparably better.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Spiral staircase would suggest Piccadilly Circus, linking the Piccadilly line with the Northbound Bakerloo. It is signed, but only once you reach it.

Yes - thanks - that must be the one I was thinking of. A little exitway off of the Bakerloo northbound, towards the northern end of the platform, down a little spiral and in seconds you're on a concourse from which you can go down steps onto either of the Piccadilly platforms ... I'm more or less remembering it now.

 

[XAM2175]

All the descriptions in the architectural press around the year 2000 when the JLE opened, and they went on about "dreary grey walls" at stations, and "utilitarian paving slabs" for the platform surfaces - when they were getting their design awards for something which made the passengers walk twice as far, and cost four times as much.

I still fail to see how the finish of the walls and floors is related to walking distance within the station.

 

[Dave W]

At Victoria, to avoid the long signed route to the Vic line: From the NR platforms, come down the East Sussex stairs, across the old ticket hall, ahead and down the corridor to the District & Circle, go through the gateline on the right at the end of that corridor and down onto the Outer Rail platform. On your right are stairs leading down to escalators which take you to the Vic line platforms. Not a good route if you are disabled or have bulky luggage.

My route of choice is similar, but involves leaving the station, across the bus station, and down to the D&C entrance there, onto the inner platform in the same way and cut down to the escalators.

Such is useful when you're in one of the hostelries near the station, but now I might try yours when coming from the platforms.