Kings Cross - New station

[G123T]

I was under the impression that platform "0" was only a temporary designation during construction and that once all finished it would become platform "1" with the other platforms renumbered accordingly. Now I've only just noticed that all the new signage, which has been in for ages , implies platform zero is staying as platform 0. Where is the logic here?? It must be confusing for some, otherwise they wouldn't feel the need to go out of the way to describe its location as they currently do. I don't get why they wouldn't take the opportunity to re number the platforms.

 

[ainsworth74]

It will be changed when Kings Cross is resignalled in the next five or so years.

 

[G123T]

It will be changed when Kings Cross is resignalled in the next five or so years.

Ah! Thanks ainsworth, could you tell me the reason they need to wait rather than doing it when the new concourse opens? I guess it's actually a bigger, more complex job than I initially assumed!

 

[ainsworth74]

Ah! Thanks ainsworth, could you tell me the reason they need to wait rather than doing it when the new concourse opens? I guess it's actually a bigger, more complex job than I initially assumed!

It would require redoing the signal box! My understanding is that when platform zero was first put in it was basically just tacked onto the existing panels so to renumber the platforms would require significant changes to the panel and its set up. You can't just get a guy with a paintbrush and repaint all the signs on the concourse

I'm not an expert and we do have some signalling experts around so hopefully they'll see this and comment.

 

[Bald Rick]

Changing the panel in the PSB is the easy bit. However all the 'back office' documentation needs changing, including all the drawings, signalling plans, technical manuals, safe system of work packs etc etc. You can imagine the result if a technician pulled out a relay marked on his drawings for platform 2, when it was now platform 3. If done at a time not concurrent with a timetable change, all the Working Timetables, simplifiers etc also have to change. Costs a fair bit.

All this is done automatically on resignalling, so effectively costs nothing.

 

[G123T]

It would require redoing the signal box! My understanding is that when platform zero was first put in it was basically just tacked onto the existing panels so to renumber the platforms would require significant changes to the panel and its set up. You can't just get a guy with a paintbrush and repaint all the signs on the concourse

I'm not an expert and we do have some signalling experts around so hopefully they'll see this and comment.

Well you're certainly more on expert than me- so thanks for the reply! Makes perfect sense when you think about it!

Thanks Bald Rick, very interesting and food for thought.

 

[ainsworth74]

Changing the panel in the PSB is the easy bit. However all the 'back office' documentation needs changing, including all the drawings, signalling plans, technical manuals, safe system of work packs etc etc. You can imagine the result if a technician pulled out a relay marked on his drawings for platform 2, when it was now platform 3. If done at a time not concurent with a timetable change, all the Working Timetables, simplifiers etc also have to change. Costs a fair bit.

All this is done automatically on resignalling, so effectively costs nothing.

As I hoped one of our experts has turned up to illuminate the issue perfectly

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

How many platforms will the new Kings Cross national rail station have?. I think it was 11before including the 3 for the local FCC services. IMO the number of platforms and size of the station in recent years was never enough, it always seemed cramped and crowded, with all the spare land between K.X & St. P., I hope they have made it more spacious and user friendly.

 

[A60K]

Only platform 0 is new, so 12 in all.

 

[jopsuk]

Cambridge News, presumably mainly copy and pasting a press release, says March 19th (Monday)

 

[amcluesent]

I'd keep platform 0. It makes sense when labelling items to start at 0.

 

[91101]

You have clearly never worked at Kings Cross, trying to explain the concept of a platform ZERO to passengers can be interesting!

 

[Geezertronic]

You have clearly never worked at Kings Cross, trying to explain the concept of a platform ZERO to passengers can be interesting!

Same as Platform 9 3/4 I suppose

 

[jon0844]

I'd keep platform 0. It makes sense when labelling items to start at 0.

It was at one time going to be called Platform Y!

 

[stut]

Shame the branch over to Hertford East is closed - you could have got a train from Y to Ware...

 

[swt_passenger]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

How many platforms will the new Kings Cross national rail station have?. I think it was 11before including the 3 for the local FCC services. IMO the number of platforms and size of the station in recent years was never enough, it always seemed cramped and crowded, with all the spare land between K.X & St. P., I hope they have made it more spacious and user friendly.

The quantity of platforms will be fine once the Thameslink tunnels are in use though, and most of the suburban trains transfer to the Thameslink route. This is why they decided the suburban side did not need to be lengthened.

Extending the platforms into the 'spare land' AND making the station 'more spacious and user friendly' would have been incompatible aims, because that's where the new concourse is...

 

[Lee_Again]

You have clearly never worked at Kings Cross, trying to explain the concept of a platform ZERO to passengers can be interesting!

Reminds me of a funny episode I once watched at Kings Cross.

It involved two sterio-typical old ladies who were busy looking for their seat reservation, seat 82/83 in Coach T (or something lilke that) on a IC225 set that had been swapped in for a Eurostar. No amount of tanoy information (and you know what they're like at Kings Cross) was helping. I did take it upon myself to help them as otherwise they would be walking up and down all the way to Leeds.

Just goes to show that what some consider simple is bordering on nuclear physics for others.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

When platform 0 at Kings Cross was first introduced, the electronic departure boards referred to it (in the platform column) as '0'.
They now refer to it as 'zero'.

There, how could anyone be confused now?

Of course the big blue boards identifying the platforms still describe it as '0'.

 

[stut]

The a/b designation confuses people at King's Cross too, particularly as some signs refer to, say, platform 9 and others to platform 9a.

 

[Bungle73]

When platform 0 at Kings Cross was first introduced, the electronic departure boards referred to it (in the platform column) as '0'.
They now refer to it as 'zero'.

There, how could anyone be confused now?

Of course the big blue boards identifying the platforms still describe it as '0'.

Zero/0, it's the same thing.

 

[jon0844]

The a/b designation confuses people at King's Cross too, particularly as some signs refer to, say, platform 9 and others to platform 9a.

Yes, and even those who see it won't know which way around it is (a is furthest away, so if it's 11a - prepare to run if you've not got much time!)

Staff get it as front and rear, which possibly makes more sense but would also be confusing. In fact, I think whatever you do, it will confuse people who don't travel regularly or not from stations that have this setup.

 

[Bald Rick]

As I hoped one of our experts has turned up to illuminate the issue perfectly

Expert? first time for everything !!

 

[91101]

Same as Platform 9 3/4 I suppose

Quite frankly, whoever thought it was a good idea to A) film in Kings Cross and B) then erect a permanent monument to those films should really really learn what its like to work a 12 hour shift with every other question being "Where's Harry Potter?"

 

[Lee_Again]

19th March is the big day.

 

[williamn]

Why didnt they call it Platform A or 1a or something? Far less confusing?
The new station looks fab but am I the only one thinking that its a shame that non travellers will no longer be able to enjoy the station proper and the trainshed?

 

[Clip]

Quite frankly, whoever thought it was a good idea to A) film in Kings Cross and B) then erect a permanent monument to those films should really really learn what its like to work a 12 hour shift with every other question being "Where's Harry Potter?"

Actually the luggage trolley was put there by the entrance to 9/10/11 because of the amount of people who asked for 9 3/4 and its a nice touch and lets the tourists who were going to come in anyway and ask and a little picture souvenir for them to take home is no bad thing is it?






I should know - it was our Idea

 

[Bungle73]

Why didnt they call it Platform A or 1a or something? Far less confusing?

How could it be called Platform 1a when it's nothing to do with Platform 1? Platform A would just be confusing as well. I don't see what's wrong with Platform Zero.

 

[YorkshireRider]

It wouldnt make any difference if it was 0,zero or A, the confusion comes from the platform been hidden away, people unfamiliar with the station just cant see it.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I May be coming into London this weeked, if I do & I have time, I will have a look at KGX.

 

[jopsuk]

Unless there's been yet another change, if you head to platforms 9-11 you'll go into part of the new concourse- there's a highish fence, but you can see the new departure boards and get a sense of the place.