South Kensington upgrade going ahead

[thomalex]

Can't seem to find a thread on this so thought I'd make one. It's been announced that the long awaited upgrade of this station bringing step free access to all lines, bringing a former District/Circle platform back to use and a wider redevelopment involving new residential buildings on the unused former trackbed and a new entrance building. Work should be starting later this year and is anticipated to complete in 2029. Some articles below:

South Kensington tube station upgrade finally getting started

A major overhaul of the station will boost capacity, add lifts and reopen a disused platform as TfL pushes ahead with long-awaited improvements.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Transformation of South Kensington Tube station will start this year, TfL announces

30million passengers a year use the station - the busiest on the London Underground without step-free access

www.standard.co.uk

 

[A60stock]

So with bringing the former Eastbound platform into use, will the existing track be moved so its closer to the disused platform or will the disused platform be extended to meet the current track? The platform at present looks a little too narrow/small to function as the sole Eastbound caterer.

I assume the current Eastbound side will be boarded/gated off from the existing platform

 

[Dstock7080]

The disused platform will be moved out to meet the track.
The initial thought was to have both sides of doors to open for a trial period and assess the passenger movement going forward.

 

[A60stock]

Interesting, it could work as you would still have more room for Eastbound passengers compared to present

 

[thomalex]

The disused platform will be moved out to meet the track.
The initial thought was to have both sides of doors to open for a trial period and assess the passenger movement going forward.

Having both sides open would solve the problem of the interchange with the Piccadilly line as, as far as I'm aware, there isn't planned to be a new access from the reopened eastbound platform meaning you've have to go via the ticket hall to interchange. I may be wrong though.

 

[A60stock]

Yes agreed, at concourse level, advertise the Eastbound as being on the New platform. The existing platform would then serve as alighting only (although you could exit on either side anyway)

 

[cle]

Yes agreed, at concourse level, advertise the Eastbound as being on the New platform. The existing platform would then serve as alighting only (although you could exit on either side anyway)

All the Invicta bag groups could go down the ‘new’ staircase and have lots of milling around space.

Those in the know will keep making the change downstairs…

 

[SYorksKent]

Does anyone know if the project requires the station to be closed for any extended periods? Even mere weekend closures will be less than ideal, given the large numbers travelling to the museums. I suspect midweek closures outside school holidays might actually be more practical, provided work can continue while trains pass through non stop.

 

[londonbridge]

Went to the science museum yesterday and noticed the museums subway was closed?

 

[Taunton]

Went to the science museum yesterday and noticed the museums subway was closed?

We have discussed here before the odd hours that the long subway gets closed, including often in evenings just before the Albert Hall turns out large numbers, who then have to walk down Exhibition Road and cross the A4. The signage in TfL font seems to show it is run by them and not the council.

The huge day-long (it seems) crush on the stairs down to the District Line platforms at South Ken just seems to get worse every year, and must surely come into some risk assessment.

 

[Mawkie]

The huge day-long (it seems) crush on the stairs down to the District Line platforms at South Ken just seems to get worse every year, and must surely come into some risk assessment.

For a bit of background, every LU station has a Congestion Control and Emergency Evacuation Procedure* (CCEP) document. This requires the Customer Service Supervisor or Manager to monitor the station and take action specific to that station when various situations arise. In times of congestion, this can include changing some gatelines to exit only, diverting passengers on a longer journey to reach the platforms, positioning staff at various points around the station, closing some station entry points, activating the Emergency Do Not Enter (EDNE) signs, non-stopping trains, and so on - ultimately the station can close completely if overwhelmed. It also determines minimum staff numbers at various times of the day, and it can be the case that certain parts of stations can be closed when staff dip below minimum numbers. I don't know if this is the case at South Ken.

*The CCEP also contains other details for lots of other emergency situations which are not relevant here. They are exempt from the Freedom of Information requests.

 

[starlight73]

as a formerly regular sufferer of the South Kensington crush, these are the measures I saw. I mostly stopped using the station in 2022.

• Staff standing at the top of the stairs into the ticket hall, or at the arcade entrances
  • They would for example close off parts of the stairs with tensabarriers, and tell people to walk on the left
• Staff closing the arcade entrances and making people queue outside / making the station exit only
• Closing the museums subway at busy times. This is I guess to prevent a crush building up inside the subway in the direction of the ticket hall. The subway is a long tunnel with no way to disperse the crowd or quickly close the subway’s gates
• Staff standing at the top and bottom of the district/circle line stairs telling people to keep to the left
• Creating a one way system.
  • The district/circle line stairs become up towards exit only.
  • Passengers for the district/circle line were sent down the Piccadilly line escalator to the interchange level, and then sent back up the interchange stairs.
  • (I may have got this the wrong way round but I think this is right, I couldn’t use stairs going up because of a disability so I had to divert.)

From my past experience it was bad but just about tolerable in peak hours (not school holidays). But the station would turn into a lake of barely-moving people at weekends and school holidays.

Not exactly related but the Piccadilly line layout is irritating. There are two flights of escalators down, and just when you think you’ve survived it, there’s extra stairs to both the Piccadilly line platforms. A further inconvenience for people with buggies, young children and disabilities!

 

[Dstock7080]

as a formerly regular sufferer of the South Kensington crush, these are the measures I saw. I mostly stopped using the station in 2022.

• Creating a one way system.
  • The district/circle line stairs become up towards exit only.
  • Passengers for the district/circle line were sent down the Piccadilly line escalator to the interchange level, and then sent back up the interchange stairs.
  • (I may have got this the wrong way round but I think this is right, I couldn’t use stairs going up because of a disability so I had to divert.)

Not exactly related but the Piccadilly line layout is irritating. There are two flights of escalators down, and just when you think you’ve survived it, there’s extra stairs to both the Piccadilly line platforms. A further inconvenience for people with buggies, young children and disabilities!

That is indeed what happens at very busy times, school holidays etc.

Historically the best way to serve platforms at different levels from a ticket hall built in the 1860s, which had lifts added in 1906. The escalator 'shaft' is actually outside at the upper level and cuts through the abandoned District westbound platform.

 

[londonbridge]

We have discussed here before the odd hours that the long subway gets closed, including often in evenings just before the Albert Hall turns out large numbers, who then have to walk down Exhibition Road and cross the A4. The signage in TfL font seems to show it is run by them and not the council.

Thanks. I’d been to the Science Museum on March 26th for the Star Trek Exhibition and the showing of ST: The Motion Picture on the IMAX screen, on my outward journey the subway was open as usual. Left the museum after the film at 9:45pm, subway was closed although the signage says it’s meant to be open until 10:00pm.

As part of the Star Trek exhibition the museum are showing all thirteen films, one a week, so I booked up again for Wrath Of Khan on April 2nd, outward journey I arrived at the station at a similar time to the previous week and found the subway closed as per my earlier post.

Going again for films three and four on the 9th and 16th respectively so we’ll see if it’s open or closed on those occasions.

 

[Taunton]

It does seem slightly ill-thought that the long subway gets closed in the evenings, by the sound of it not from overcrowding, for things are notably quiet by that time, but from short staffing in the station, although the subway itself is quite unstaffed and open to the public. And that this is somehow seen in a safety assessment as better when it means all are diverted to cross the A4 and South Ken road junctions on the level, just because any accident up there doesn't get into Underground figures. Isn't keeping significant pedestrian flows away from crossing these main roads what the subway is meant to do in the first place?

 

[Railguy1]

It is worth pointing out that you can also walk to Gloucester Road station through Imperial College, which is far quieter and also has lifts to the Piccadilly line (but still requires using steps).

 

[Taunton]

It is worth pointing out that you can also walk to Gloucester Road station through Imperial College, which is far quieter and also has lifts to the Piccadilly line (but still requires using steps).

For efficiency in getting there from the Albert Hall this relies on knowing that the long subway is closed. Which is not only random (you quite likely used it on the outward journey) but quite unknown until you get to the entrance and find the gates across. By which time it's more than double the distance to walk to Gloucester Road. And even more roads to cross.

 

[undertheloop]

Can't seem to find a thread on this so thought I'd make one. It's been announced that the long awaited upgrade of this station bringing step free access to all lines, bringing a former District/Circle platform back to use and a wider redevelopment involving new residential buildings on the unused former trackbed and a new entrance building. Work should be starting later this year and is anticipated to complete in 2029. Some articles below:

South Kensington tube station upgrade finally getting started

A major overhaul of the station will boost capacity, add lifts and reopen a disused platform as TfL pushes ahead with long-awaited improvements.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

Transformation of South Kensington Tube station will start this year, TfL announces

30million passengers a year use the station - the busiest on the London Underground without step-free access

www.standard.co.uk

What seems to confuse me is whether the Piccadilly Line will also be getting step free access at the same time. The TfL website seemed clear that it will https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/south-kensington, which would make sense at first, but the IanVisits article you've attached actually seems to suggest otherwise saying: "Step-free access to the Piccadilly line is set for a later upgrade as it can’t be included in the current plans." alongside the dedicated website for the scheme, which actually doesn't mention the Picc at all. https://www.southkensingtonstation.co.uk/about so seems up in the air at the moment by the looks of it?

 

[Dstock7080]

"Game-changing" transformation of internationally important South Kensington Tube station hits new milestone

“Game-changing” transformation of internationally important South Kensington Tube station hits new milestone

tfl.gov.uk

Contract expected to be signed with Costain.
Preparation works to start at 34 Thurloe Street shortly.
Expected fully open by 2031, 150th anniversary of Natural History Museum.

TfL intends to award design and build contract to Costain, meaning scheme can now fully progress, bringing a significantly improved passenger experience through a station capacity upgrade and enabling step-free access to all platforms within the Grade-II listed station, as well as adding a new eastbound Circle and District line platform

 

[absolutelymilk]

Thanks for posting! What does it mean by a "A new dedicated eastbound platform for the Circle and District line" given there is already one? Does it mean it will be split so one platform for Circle line trains and one for District?

 

[Dstock7080]

Reopening the former eastbound Circle platform and extending it out to meet the current eastbound track.
Initially it was proposed that doors would only open onto the reopened side but this would not give access for the Piccadilly Line, so a compromise maybe to open doors on both sides.

 

[Taunton]

I wonder how interchangers with the Piccadilly will be kept to one side of the platform(s) and entrance/exit passengers to the other. Past history elsewhere seems to show this doesn't work at all.

34 Thurloe Street, to be the worksite, is the shop unit immediately on the east side of the arcade northerly entrance on Thurloe Street. It's a pedestrian-only area, so worksite access is going to be interesting. I presume it's directly above the old eastbound platform. I guess the arcade entrance, all grand District Railway scrollwork, is listed in some way.

You actually don't seem to get a lot for £120m nowadays ...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Looking forward to traveling through this upgraded station. It brings back memories because it was the Tube station I used when I was at Imperial College.

 

[Class15]

This is great news but… 2031? Everything takes so long!

 

[absolutelymilk]

I wonder how interchangers with the Piccadilly will be kept to one side of the platform(s) and entrance/exit passengers to the other. Past history elsewhere seems to show this doesn't work at all.

I presume if someone goes the wrong way, they will still be able to get to the Piccadilly line, just by a much longer route?

 

[thomalex]

I wonder how interchangers with the Piccadilly will be kept to one side of the platform(s) and entrance/exit passengers to the other. Past history elsewhere seems to show this doesn't work at all.

34 Thurloe Street, to be the worksite, is the shop unit immediately on the east side of the arcade northerly entrance on Thurloe Street. It's a pedestrian-only area, so worksite access is going to be interesting. I presume it's directly above the old eastbound platform. I guess the arcade entrance, all grand District Railway scrollwork, is listed in some way.

You actually don't seem to get a lot for £120m nowadays ...

I'm not sure it matters. I would presume there will be an announcement that says 'exit on the right hand side for the Piccadilly line', but even if you get off the wrong side it's then only a short walk up the steps to the ticket hall and down the escalators.

For those exiting the station you can get off on either platform. And those entering will be directed to the new platform.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 22:33 ==

This is great news but… 2031? Everything takes so long!

A million pages of documentation takes some time to put together you know

 

[ClivePage]

I wonder when they will force closure of the Daquise restaurant and whether there is any chance of it moving to a new site?

 

[Mr. SW]

I am hoping that during the various goings on and possessions they'll take the time to fix that horrid little reverse curve on the western end of westbound District/Circle platform and reduce the gapping to a more acceptable level, if not take it down to the bare minimum possible. It'll mean a track slue, pushing it closer to the Piccadilly Line escalator shaft. But, we shall see.

 

[Dstock7080]

It'll mean a track slue, pushing it closer to the Piccadilly Line escalator shaft. But, we shall see.

I doubt any work will be done here, there are track drains along the separation between what was originally the westbound District (now disused) and eastbound District roads.

 

[Mr. SW]

Moving a drain will be very minor work compared to the rest of the development.