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St Pancras Departure Boards
- Thread starter Hadders
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RailUK Forums
I don't really get organizing it by TOC. Nobody really cares, other than Eurostar or not Eurostar. It also lacks a "next train to major destination" which I think is actually useful for those not in the know. Anyway, if "by TOC" is the design, this does look great.
zwk500
Veteran Member
At St Pancras, you have 4 very distinct sets of platforms that are largely separated by TOC, so it makes a lot of sense. Equally because of the quite different destinations each set of platforms serves a 'Next Train' board would provide limited information above the design proposed above.
I say both.Good to see the digital clock running a couple of hours fast
Or is the analogue slow?
Or both?
There are frequent Thameslink departures shown, the first at 16:30, longest gap 7 minutes.
The digital clock shows a time later than these departures.
The analogue clock shows 16:10. A 20 minute gap in the timetable seems unlikely.
Jim the Jim
Member
Also the Thameslink services are very frequent and would swamp a conventional board listing all services. E.g. at the time of writing 7 of the next 10 trains due to leave St Pancras are Thameslink services and they're all leaving in the next 15 minutes. It's helpful for people travelling with other operators to keep the Thameslink ones separate at least.
I think the layout of the station makes separate signs not so much for each TOC, but the platform locations (although this means the same thing in normal operation), more sensible.
I never saw the logic of separate ticket offices (still don't) but for information at a glance (with more detailed information when you get to the appropriate part of the station) it is good.
There should possibly be something to show Cambridge or Peterbrough (or WGC) trains that go from King's Cross, as happens in King's Cross in reverse, although I don't know how many people would actively swap and change (but during disruption they might).
I never saw the logic of separate ticket offices (still don't) but for information at a glance (with more detailed information when you get to the appropriate part of the station) it is good.
There should possibly be something to show Cambridge or Peterbrough (or WGC) trains that go from King's Cross, as happens in King's Cross in reverse, although I don't know how many people would actively swap and change (but during disruption they might).
TheHSRailFan
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that looks pretty cool and good, simple in terms of graphics but also quite easy to read and understand.
AlbertBeale
Established Member
I find the logic - or lack of it - confusing, in that the sign with all 4 arrows (pointing left and right, and up, along, or down, to indicate which direction and which level each batch of trains is), should surely be between the platforms to your left and the ones to your right. As it is, the Eurostar arrow points away from the Eurostar information, and my first thought, just looking at the colours and the arrows without being close enough to read the text, was confusion. In other words, the arrows with the little person, and the Eurostar departures, should be the other way round. By the same token, since left-right correlates with top-bottom, then EMRT should be to the left of Eurostar, not to the right. Overall, I feel this has been designed to "look pretty" rather than to be as useful as it could be.
Similarly, if there are to be two clocks, rather than one in the middle, I think it would be better to have one at each extreme end rather than mixed up with what is, after all, a confusing set of information which needs as much logic as possible.
I take the point that if Thameslink northbound are running from the EMR platforms, then the display will be different to make that clear [though how?]. But what about the routine matter of the routes/destinations of some s/b Thameslink trains overlapping with the routes/destinations of some SE trains once they both get out of central London - surely some cross-referencing is needed for this too. And I agree with what's been said about the need for a note about some n/b Thameslink destinations also being covered by services from KX next door - there should surely be a separate subsidiary departure board with consolidated information for services to Cambridge etc?
Similarly, if there are to be two clocks, rather than one in the middle, I think it would be better to have one at each extreme end rather than mixed up with what is, after all, a confusing set of information which needs as much logic as possible.
I take the point that if Thameslink northbound are running from the EMR platforms, then the display will be different to make that clear [though how?]. But what about the routine matter of the routes/destinations of some s/b Thameslink trains overlapping with the routes/destinations of some SE trains once they both get out of central London - surely some cross-referencing is needed for this too. And I agree with what's been said about the need for a note about some n/b Thameslink destinations also being covered by services from KX next door - there should surely be a separate subsidiary departure board with consolidated information for services to Cambridge etc?
It's best to think of St Pancras as like four individual stations, rather than one single row of platforms. King's Cross has the suburban shed that splits things up a bit, but given trains are mixed and matched for a lot of the day there's no need to separate things in the same way. Therefore the trains listed in time order make more sense (but that's not to say King's Cross won't get an upgraded system one day to be more like London Victoria or Euston, with colour displays).
This is like a global overview of trains, and each 'section' that you walk to will then have its own displays with more information. I don't think it matters so much if there's some crossover with a Southeastern train and where some TL trains go to, or the same for TL and EMR. Those who have an advance ticket for EMR will simply look at EMR, likewise Eurostar.
If someone can't find their train because they don't know the operator, they can ask the many members of staff that are almost always clearly visible all over the station - although I would have thought they'd simply look at each section in turn until they see trains going where they want to go.
I'd wager most people know how to use an app these days. The screens are more for a convenience check than anything else, perhaps when you first arrive and might be going to grab a coffee or do some shopping, or after you've had something to eat and just want to check the platform and that your train is still on time.
This is like a global overview of trains, and each 'section' that you walk to will then have its own displays with more information. I don't think it matters so much if there's some crossover with a Southeastern train and where some TL trains go to, or the same for TL and EMR. Those who have an advance ticket for EMR will simply look at EMR, likewise Eurostar.
If someone can't find their train because they don't know the operator, they can ask the many members of staff that are almost always clearly visible all over the station - although I would have thought they'd simply look at each section in turn until they see trains going where they want to go.
I'd wager most people know how to use an app these days. The screens are more for a convenience check than anything else, perhaps when you first arrive and might be going to grab a coffee or do some shopping, or after you've had something to eat and just want to check the platform and that your train is still on time.
Thameslink trains to Gravesend are off peak 2 tph and take 1 hr 15 mins. Southeastern HS are 1 tph and take 24 mins.
Apart from the odd peak exception I don't think theres any case in the current timetable where Thameslink is the next fastest train to Gravesend.
Theres nothing taking the first Thameslink to London Bridge and changing there either.
sjoh
Member
I enjoyed Dovery Priory...
Travel to Lillie by Eurostar.Change at Canterybury West
zwk500
Veteran Member
That's a monumental upgrade!
MCR247
Established Member
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Interesting the southeastern arrow is pointing down!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Means behind you, though I think a curved arrow would indicate that better.
zwk500
Veteran Member
Doesn't look to be space for a curved arrow, and at that point isn't the SE entrance properly to the left rather than behind you?
MCR247
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I understand the escalator diagram says ‘current floor’ etc to show you do actually need to go up, but I think have a big arrow pointing downwards next to a picture of an escalator is asking for trouble
Joe Paxton
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Absolutely.
Still switched off Friday and Saturday.
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modernrail
Established Member
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Agreed, use the split of the Thameslink boards to have a southbound board and a northbound board.
Trainguy34
Established Member
Where is this new board in relation to the HS1 platforms
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