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Before arriving at Euston for a journey north I check with Realtimetrains to see if the incoming train is on-time and which platform it has arrived at, then cross-reference with Opentraintimes to confirm the platform number. I'm then in pole-position for the last-minute rush when the platform number is announced. I wonder if some enterprising IT geek could develop a passenger-friendly system that would provide this very useful information for the average punter?
The one I hate is when Kings Cross announce a platform such as 1 or 2 for a busy long distance Edinburgh or Leeds train just as one has arrived in 7 or 8. You get a rather unique complete right angle clash as they disembark and you alight. I love the (not so anymore) new Kings Cross concourse, but having it completely side on means there’s so frequently a clash.
King’s Cross also have/had a really annoying habit of advertising an outgoing GN service just as the incoming one arrived at a platform. This has been going on since FCC days, and was particularly annoying at platforms 9-11 as it created a clash just at the worst moment. At one point I emailed the operator about this but got back a typical “we know best” response. I think the practice still happens but it’s slightly less of an issue now as most GN services at King’s Cross tend to have longer turnarounds these days.
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King’s Cross has had its moments. The day when the 700s all screwed themselves down after the power surge was a complete shambles. I turned up in the late evening to find the station in total chaos, most of the entrances locked, people unable to get in and out, and trains coming and going without even being advertised. Agree it does seem to happen more at Euston though.
Many more passengers these days. Other than the Underground entrance now being accessed from outside the station rather than being on the main concourse, and the addition of the mezzanine (with associated escalators) what other space that we can see in that photo has gone over to other use?
In the 1990s there were shops built around some of the pillars but these went years ago.
I have rarely visited Euston for 30 years, but were not the shops and mezzanine on the Euston Road/South side built on the former concourse? or was it an extension outside? I don't see how the open mezzanine area can be other than inside the concourse hall.
I did commute through Euston and when I started, in 1970, if you came into the station from the East Colonnade (the doors in the right background of the picture) you could walk in a straight line from there to Platforms 8 - 11. On a rare occasion recently, and in a hurry because of late running elsewhere, I recall that there was an obstruction almost immediately inside the door - can't remember what - and other clutter..
Before arriving at Euston for a journey north I check with Realtimetrains to see if the incoming train is on-time and which platform it has arrived at, then cross-reference with Opentraintimes to confirm the platform number. I'm then in pole-position for the last-minute rush when the platform number is announced. I wonder if some enterprising IT geek could develop a passenger-friendly system that would provide this very useful information for the average punter?
I have rarely visited Euston for 30 years, but were not the shops and mezzanine on the Euston Road/South side built on the former concourse? or was it an extension outside? I don't see how the open mezzanine area can be other than inside the concourse hall.
I did commute through Euston and when I started, in 1970, if you came into the station from the East Colonnade (the doors in the right background of the picture) you could walk in a straight line from there to Platforms 8 - 11. On a rare occasion recently, and in a hurry because of late running elsewhere, I recall that there was an obstruction almost immediately inside the door - can't remember what - and other clutter.
Inside, but bar a very short area for the up escalator it doesn't take any floor space, the nature of a mezzanine is that it's above things
The space below it wasn't very useful anyway, it was and is obstructed by the Tube entrance and the former steps down to the car park and taxi rank underground (which is what is pictured above - the Tube entrance is off shot to the right and at 90 degrees to the steps pictured).
Thanks, indeed, but I had the impression that the mezzanine did have some obstructions below it disinclining people from waiting or walking under it. On my visits I am heading for the bus station and I detour around (past the former Head of Steam to avoid passing under it.
Thanks, indeed, but I had the impression that the mezzanine did have some obstructions below it disinclining people from waiting or walking under it. On my visits I am heading for the bus station and I detour around (past the former Head of Steam to avoid passing under it.
I'm assuming the bold thing happens when the train is actually routed into the platform so its platforming is confirmed. If so, then someone acting on it at that time would run head-on into the crowd of people alighting.
Agreed. But if something similar is to be targeted at a wider public who may not have that knowledge, then more care might be needed - for example not advising the platform until 10min later. That would give time for arriving passenger to clear but in most cases would still be plenty for departing passengers to get to the platform in good time.
Agreed. But if something similar is to be targeted at a wider public who may not have that knowledge, then more care might be needed - for example not advising the platform until 10min later. That would give time for arriving passenger to clear but in most cases would still be plenty for departing passengers to get to the platform in good time.
If we are talking about stopping the scrum, two options would work:
1. Train arrives and tips out, lock doors, then call it so people can go down and queue by the door.
2. Don't suppress platforms at all, but separate entrance and exit flows on the ramps entirely, with a locked door only opened for entrance when ready to board. On the two main ramps there are 5 sections, the wide middle one can be used for exit and I suspect was in BR days.
For LNR and LO services on 8-11 there is no need to suppress at all, this area is designed for people to wait on the platforms with benches etc.
Outside of disruption platforming is quite consistent.
I was at Euston this morning and one of those large screens was showing something completely different than the train times, so everyone crowded round the other trying to see what was shown. Anyone with poor eyesight hasn't a chance.
I wish I'd taken a photo but was in a rush.
Totally unacceptable station in my eyes and needs pulling down and rebuilding.
Whenever I think of the "Euston Crush" issue, I can't help but remember Michael Palin's description of the station in the Confessions Of A Train Spotter (1980) documentary:
Euston always reminds me of a giant bath. Lots of smooth, slippery marble and glass surfaces, so that people can be sloshed quickly and efficiently around.
Before arriving at Euston for a journey north I check with Realtimetrains to see if the incoming train is on-time and which platform it has arrived at, then cross-reference with Opentraintimes to confirm the platform number. I'm then in pole-position for the last-minute rush when the platform number is announced.
Been doing similar with Euston departures for some time. Over the years it's been fun to note the slow but steady increase in numbers of those getting to the platform ramp at the same time as me.
Been doing similar with Euston departures for some time. Over the years it's been fun to note the slow but steady increase in numbers of those getting to the platform ramp at the same time as me.
Before arriving at Euston for a journey north I check with Realtimetrains to see if the incoming train is on-time and which platform it has arrived at, then cross-reference with Opentraintimes to confirm the platform number. I'm then in pole-position for the last-minute rush when the platform number is announced. I wonder if some enterprising IT geek could develop a passenger-friendly system that would provide this very useful information for the average punter?
Indeed, the concourse feels like it's miles away from the platforms, & the concourse is far too small to deal with the crowds in any sort of disruption, then even when their has not been any disruption you have trains announced minutes before departure, so you get that scrum to the trains when the train departures are announced.
Interesting to read this hasn't changed in over 10 years. In 2013 I changed jobs and stopped commuting from Guildford to Harrow and back.
Prior to that if a London Midland Train was late abd changed platforms, it would be announced last minute and be shown as being on time still.
The services, bar the odd extra, were every 30 minutes to Harrow and the train would be shown as being on time.
You'd know the train would be late but you couldn't rely on thus being the case as it showed as on time. So you would dash round from platforms 8 to 11 to 1 or some other number to avoid waiting an extra 30 minutes.
If floorspace is an issue, I recommend the ritual sacrifice of all remaining SSP retail outlets. Then add those stupid new department screen abominations / failed GCSE project onto the bonfire.
London's Euston saw hundreds of passengers stranded over the weekend after a points failure stopped all trains, following three 'incidents of concern' over the summer
If floorspace is an issue, I recommend the ritual sacrifice of all remaining SSP retail outlets. Then add those stupid new department screen abominations / failed GCSE project onto the bonfire.
Get rid off the ticket office and open up all the area in front of the 12-15 ramps. Move the ticket office on to the piazza near to the entrance to the underground. It will cost a bit, but cheaper than most other options.
Get rid off the ticket office and open up all the area in front of the 12-15 ramps. Move the ticket office on to the piazza near to the entrance to the underground. It will cost a bit, but cheaper than most other options.
There have been several references today to Network Rail just, basically, ‘shutting the concourse’ at King’s Cross during disruption (from flooding today).
Is Euston ‘just shut’ to avoid congestion during disruption?
There have been several references today to Network Rail just, basically, ‘shutting the concourse’ at King’s Cross during disruption (from flooding today).
Is Euston ‘just shut’ to avoid congestion during disruption?
It was certainly being advertised as exit only at times on Thursday.
King’s Cross is much more difficult to shut due to the large number of entrances. Hence the chaos on the day when the 700s all sat down. When I turned up in the evening I’d say the station wasn’t under control at all, with most entrances locked, the station allegedly “closed” yet still with people inside in some cases trying to find a way out, trains departing without being advertised, and no staff visible anywhere. I have never seen such a spectacle either before or since.
Euston is a bit different especially now the Underground entrance has been separated off. What happens here is the concourse fills up. If the weather is okay then this will simply spill outside, but if the weather isn’t good then that’s when the problems really occur.
King’s Cross is much more difficult to shut due to the large number of entrances. Hence the chaos on the day when the 700s all sat down. When I turned up in the evening I’d say the station wasn’t under control at all, with most entrances locked, the station allegedly “closed” yet still with people inside in some cases trying to find a way out, trains departing without being advertised, and no staff visible anywhere. I have never seen such a spectacle either before or since.
So that's another central London station managed by Network Rail that, during disruption, can suddenly and mysteriously find itself with zero / 0 staff on duty?
Is there an official Network Rail contingency plan that instructs all staff to hide in a back office and wait out the storm?
I have not been through Euston for a few months, so I don't know if it has re-opened, but is the formerly well used seated food court still closed off, and is this a contributory factor to the overcrowding on the concourse?
I went up on to the mezzanine and there were 3 pigeons fighting over left overs, with very few people relative to down below on the main floor. If they put some nice comfy seats here and made the whole mezzanine a seated waiting area rather than mostly wasted space that those early arrivals could use, instead of them standing on the concourse, that could help?
Plus the main screen needs to go back where it was ASAP.
I have not been through Euston for a few months, so I don't know if it has re-opened, but is the formerly well used seated food court still closed off, and is this a contributory factor to the overcrowding on the concourse?
I went up on to the mezzanine and there were 3 pigeons fighting over left overs, with very few people relative to down below on the main floor. If they put some nice comfy seats here and made the whole mezzanine a seated waiting area rather than mostly wasted space that those early arrivals could use, instead of them standing on the concourse, that could help?
Plus the main screen needs to go back where it was ASAP.
I have not been through Euston for a few months, so I don't know if it has re-opened, but is the formerly well used seated food court still closed off, and is this a contributory factor to the overcrowding on the concourse?
I went up on to the mezzanine and there were 3 pigeons fighting over left overs, with very few people relative to down below on the main floor. If they put some nice comfy seats here and made the whole mezzanine a seated waiting area rather than mostly wasted space that those early arrivals could use, instead of them standing on the concourse, that could help?
Plus the main screen needs to go back where it was ASAP.
I very much miss the food court, scratching my head as to what was there but there was definetly another Burger King and a Harry Ramsdens at one point which did English Breakfasts !
I very much miss the food court, scratching my head as to what was there but there was definetly another Burger King and a Harry Ramsdens at one point which did English Breakfasts !
I remember the Burger King as it was handy to go there when you were a bit pressed for time. I didn't really rate Harry Ramsdens but maybe I went on a bad day.
With regard to the stampedes would watching Real Time Trains work for an idea about platform allocations? It would certainly help to wait near the gates to get a decent seat.
I use the Crewe train if I'm travelling back up here as to & from Rugby that only stops at Milton Keynes en route and knowing early on which platform it's going from is always useful. I know they split it in the station hence they don't want passengers hanging around but honestly knowing a few minutes before can pay dividends.
Those walled ramps really don't help though.
With regard to the stampedes would watching Real Time Trains work for an idea about platform allocations? It would certainly help to wait near the gates to get a decent seat.
Yes, Realtime Trains is very reliable at Euston. Once the platform has gone bold and "at platform" shows, I've only ever known it be wrong once, and it was a last minute set swap. For Avanti don't get onto the platform until it's called, though, as the RPIs will get cross and assume you are fare dodging.
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The ramps aren't the problem. The problem is how the station is operated - an approach that is very rarely used outside London (though a few places do, e.g. Inverness), yet seems endemic at London termini.
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I very much miss the food court, scratching my head as to what was there but there was definetly another Burger King and a Harry Ramsdens at one point which did English Breakfasts !
That was generally used as a lounge for people waiting longer. It was replaced with the Ritazza and that accessories shop which is very much out of place there (HEMA?)
I would agree they could do with removing the accessories shop and opening that area out to recreate it as a passenger lounge, with the Ritazza just being a takeaway counter. The problem with the mezzanine is you don't really see it when you walk in so few bother going up there. It's now made even worse by the fact you can't see a display from all of it, another reason the new displays are bad.
Why are the platforms not known earlier? Here in Melbourne you wait on the platform as trains typically go from same platforms to a particular destination or group of destination. Only one station in Melbourne doesn't do this and thats Southern cross but they tell you 30 minutes before departure even if there is no train currently sitting there its formed by inbound service. You can check vline app to check platforms in advance or even which bus bay if there are buses replacing trains.
The question is why can't Euston allocate the platforms 20 to 30 minutes in advance and use an app so passengers know of changes before even reaching the station?
Why are the platforms not known earlier? Here in Melbourne you wait on the platform as trains typically go from same platforms to a particular destination or group of destination. Only one station in Melbourne doesn't do this and thats Southern cross but they tell you 30 minutes before departure even if there is no train currently sitting there its formed by inbound service. You can check vline app to check platforms in advance or even which bus bay if there are buses replacing trains.
The question is why can't Euston allocate the platforms 20 to 30 minutes in advance and use an app so passengers know of changes before even reaching the station?
Probably because of the shear amount of train movements, many which are running late and end up being out of sync. I think the arrival platform is planned in advance but it often never works out because of operating issues. However they should at least the the platform as soon as they know, rather than only announcing it once they open the platform. That seems to be part of the major issue, at Piccadilly they usually let you on the train 20 minutes before departure.
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