Kings Cross - New station

[swt_passenger]

Reference my post above ^^ about the Southern Square planning application, the drawings are available on line this morning, and I've attached the relevant drawing showing retail units built round the round vent shaft, and also on the north side of the existing 'blue egg' vent and intervention shaft.

The planning correspondence states they are designed for news and light refreshments. Hope this is of some interest.

 

[Clip]

Ahh good to hear.. Great bunch of lads who work in there..

 

[Barclay]

I'm not sure if it will be the same guys in the new newspaper stall - I seem to remember there being an article in the Evening Standard in the last few months focusing on the existing stallholders being unhappy about loosing their stand.

There's some images of the new square on the designers website here: http://www.stantonwilliams.com/projects/kings-cross-square/

There's actually three shafts - the Piccadilly line one in the top right of the square is smaller so gets forgotten. I understand this is being partially disguised by housing some ATMs! The circular one in the centre is for the Victoria line, and will incorporate the aforementioned newstand. It will be linked by a lightweight canopy to the LUL southeast stairs, to shelter emerging underground passengers (and smokers?!).

The biggest structure, the "egg" has a coffee kiosk added on its North side facing the taxi queue. It is bigger than the others because it also contains a firefighting shaft, as well as bin stores.

 

[Deerfold]

I'm not sure if it will be the same guys in the new newspaper stall - I seem to remember there being an article in the Evening Standard in the last few months focusing on the existing stallholders being unhappy about loosing their stand.

This?

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/...gs-cross-kiosk-is-forced-to-move-7498208.html

 

[D1009]

No wi-fi though, my firiends tell me. Haven't tried myself

The First Class Lounge has free wi-fi which works outside to a limited extent.

 

[LE Greys]

I'm not sure if it will be the same guys in the new newspaper stall - I seem to remember there being an article in the Evening Standard in the last few months focusing on the existing stallholders being unhappy about loosing their stand.

There's some images of the new square on the designers website here: http://www.stantonwilliams.com/projects/kings-cross-square/

There's actually three shafts - the Piccadilly line one in the top right of the square is smaller so gets forgotten. I understand this is being partially disguised by housing some ATMs! The circular one in the centre is for the Victoria line, and will incorporate the aforementioned newstand. It will be linked by a lightweight canopy to the LUL southeast stairs, to shelter emerging underground passengers (and smokers?!).

The biggest structure, the "egg" has a coffee kiosk added on its North side facing the taxi queue. It is bigger than the others because it also contains a firefighting shaft, as well as bin stores.

Well, I suppose if they allowed the one news stand, then there would be arguments for catering stands and other things and we'd see the "African Village" rising from the dead before we knew it.

The First Class Lounge has free wi-fi which works outside to a limited extent.

So do the trains, as I discovered at Newcastle Central. Convenient but slow.

 

[jon0844]

I've managed to pick up a good EC Wi-Fi signal on a moving train - as it overtook us near Hadley Wood!

 

[142094]

Getting rid of the Newsweek stand means people will be more inclined to use the station shops, leading to increased revenue and increased rents for Network Rail.

 

[Blindtraveler]

was there yesturday. Also managed to, urm, borrow ECs free FC lounge wifi that worked well. Disapointing at the fact its stil quite a cold and draughty place.

 

[rdwarr]

I noticed today that the sign indicating the route from P8 (near the bike stand) to P9-11 has been blanked out whilst the route itself remains gated off. It's a just a niggle to me as I go from the country end of P8 to St Pancras but it must be a problem for cyclists trying to get to the suburban platforms.
This route was on all of the maps - any idea why it appears not to be available?

 

[Deerfold]

Caught a train from P5 last night. Must have been 30-40 people came from the arrivals concourse immediately after the train being announced (I didn't this time as I arrived by Thameslink). About half the gates were open.

There seemed to be very few staff about - I've had this impression several times.

 

[jon0844]

Half the gates? Why bother to have some open and not others? It's bad enough that they've got a silly barrier that you can step around, climb over, climb through or under!

I do think the gates are most unstaffed during the day. Not sure if this is a long term plan, or because of short staffing (or staff being deployed elsewhere to give information/assistance).

The only exception is the gates by 9-11 which seem to be used all day. If and when they keep the gates open until the last train, they might actually have a chance at protecting revenue properly!

 

[Clip]

Getting rid of the Newsweek stand means people will be more inclined to use the station shops, leading to increased revenue and increased rents for Network Rail.

The Newsweek stand is on Camden property not NR. It was a shame when they lost their victoria pitch but to lose this would be even worse.

 

[dfurn]

Owls?

I was just wondering where they were so I could take a look when I'm next in the area.

If you are still curious I attach a screen grab of one I recently videoed. An owl at King's Cross I mean.

 

[Bungle73]

Thanks. I'll look out for them next time I'm up there.

 

[JGR]

I must admit that I was very much taken by surprise when I turned up there this morning.
I had arrived on Friday but somehow hadn't noticed that they'd finished it.

As for the barriers, the fact that some services (GC and Hull trains IIRC) sell tickets on board the train makes them slightly less useful.
I was getting the GC train to Kirkgate and as soon as the platform was announced (about 20 minutes late), all the gates were opened. That and the walkway between the two concourses is separated from the ticketed area only by a flimsy bit of tape.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I read a good point in the current RAIL about the new concourse today that I didn't notice when I checked it out last week - is there indeed anywhere to sit and wait for an extended period of time on it?

I was quite impressed with the new concourse, sadly I see the booking office queue problems has carried over though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Photos now up on NRE too - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/KGX/plan.html

 

[SWT_USER]

I read a good point in the current RAIL about the new concourse today that I didn't notice when I checked it out last week - is there indeed anywhere to sit and wait for an extended period of time on it?

I was quite impressed with the new concourse, sadly I see the booking office queue problems has carried over though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Photos now up on NRE too - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/KGX/plan.html

Upstairs by the food outlets? All general seating I think.

 

[swt_passenger]

I read a good point in the current RAIL about the new concourse today that I didn't notice when I checked it out last week - is there indeed anywhere to sit and wait for an extended period of time on it?

Here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/KGX/images/photos/800/o2248-0000865.jpg

Or upstairs on the mezzanine. Apparently there is some public seating there.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I think the letter was more with regard to heated (if need be), quiet waiting areas.

 

[Deerfold]

Here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/KGX/images/photos/800/o2248-0000865.jpg

Or upstairs on the mezzanine. Apparently there is some pubic seating there.

Guessing that's public seating?

 

[swt_passenger]

Guessing that's public seating?

I didn't spell or explain that too well!

Apparently people have been assuming that the seats upstairs all require purchases to be made from the various food places, but I'm told this is not correct - although there are some seats owned by the shops there is also 'public' seating.

 

[Bungle73]

I didn't spell or explain that too well!

Apparently people have been assuming that the seats upstairs all require purchases to be made from the various food places, but I'm told this is not correct - although there are some seats owned by the shops there is also 'public' seating.

How do you tell the difference?

 

[43313]

I'm not sure if the gates are always like this, but when I travelled from Darlington to Kings Cross a fortnight ago today, they were just left open. That, coupled with the fact that my ticket wasn't checked at all throughout the journey, shows why so many people get away with not buying a ticket.

 

[jon0844]

Is it policy to have the gates open during the day, or are they short staffed at the moment?

It seems strange to have so effectively protected all the platforms, then have the gates open! It means that 9-11 (which is still gated during the day) is open to access via platform 8 - thus making every platform accessible.

 

[Waddon]

I've used the new Kings X a bit recently, and although overall it's nice, am I the only one who thinks that they've used a totally inappropriate flooring material? Instead of getting something fairly smooth and solid, they have used a rough-grained concrete or stone slab, which is obviously hard to clean and stains easily as anywhere where a coffee might or has been be spilt already looks filthy and shabby, even though the cleaning machine seems to be running up and down all the time. It's particularly noticeable around the Pret a Manger seating downstairs (which, by the way, is also counted as a public seating area, you don't need to buy their products to use it)

 

[DarloRich]

I have used Kings Cross quite a bit since the new concourse opened and have to say it is superb. I have had no trouble at all. Mind the beer in the pub is a tad expensive!

As for the gates being open, the only times i have seen them open was very early in the morning ( and then only on the bridge) and one evening when there were delays. I have decided to use the bridge to access my train as it seems much nicer to avoid the crowds and step straight onto the train.

The front end windows are now clear and it really opens up the train shed. It looked fantastic last night

perhaps it is a staffing issue?

 

[stut]

I've seen 9-11 open a few times in the early evening peak, too (very welcome, too, as it's a pain having to queue for the manual gates when you've just been into 0-8 for the bike racks...)

I suppose that, if it's when most passengers have season tickets, and that the barriers are on frequently and unpredictably enough to catch out would-be commuter-evaders, it's a reasonable call to take.

 

[LE Greys]

I've used the new Kings X a bit recently, and although overall it's nice, am I the only one who thinks that they've used a totally inappropriate flooring material? Instead of getting something fairly smooth and solid, they have used a rough-grained concrete or stone slab, which is obviously hard to clean and stains easily as anywhere where a coffee might or has been be spilt already looks filthy and shabby, even though the cleaning machine seems to be running up and down all the time. It's particularly noticeable around the Pret a Manger seating downstairs (which, by the way, is also counted as a public seating area, you don't need to buy their products to use it)

But does have the advantage that you don't break your neck if you're making a dash for a train in wet shoes!

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I used King's Cross and among the multitude of a misleading path next to Platform 0 and many a LU entrance, Platform 9 3/4 had been moved again and as I don't follow the ECML, the day went from good to dodgy.
The new entrance isn't even finished with loads of construction going on complimented with big finger signs pointing to the new entrance which is honestly a waste of material....
St Pancras looks heavenly in comparison!