London Bridge reconstruction works

[FOH]

They seem to be finally doing the paving outside the upper concourse. The last part before those hoardings come down I think?

And on it goes ... we’re well into October now, has anyone noticed much happening? Those units just look like empty shells

 

[ijmad]

And on it goes ... we’re well into October now, has anyone noticed much happening? Those units just look like empty shells

Thameslink Programme told me on Twitter that the area out front would be finished by the end of October. Awful long time to do a bit of paving! No idea how long it will take the units to fit out, or if they're even all tenanted yet. I seem to recall hearing that the large restaurant space a the 'point' of the triangle building might be a Benito's Hat?

I noticed Stainer Street looks very nearly finished as I was passing though at the weekend. Not sure when it'll be opening. Looking at the station map there seem to be two shop fronts orientated facing in to it, but other than that it seems pretty unexciting. A useful way to walk through the station at night when the main concourse is closed I guess, but I thought Joiner Street was open 24/7 anyway, right?

They need to finish tidying up the bits around the back of The Shipwrights Arms as well.

 

[Barn]

And on it goes ... we’re well into October now, has anyone noticed much happening? Those units just look like empty shells

I know it is very difficult working within an operational station, but it does feel as if the pedal has come off the gas, especially with the retail units.

What on earth is going on with that Greggs?

 

[TFN]

Oh gosh the amount of times I wish that Greggs was open for a quick breakfast or lunch. "Summer 2018" sure

 

[samuelmorris]

Most of the catering seems behind the gate line too, I was working at a customer site near to London Bridge last week and tightth I'd visit the station for lunch only to realise it'd cost me a 'nowhere journey' so in the end I carried on through to the other side and went down to MoreLondon.

 

[swt_passenger]

Most of the catering seems behind the gate line too, I was working at a customer site near to London Bridge last week and tightth I'd visit the station for lunch only to realise it'd cost me a 'nowhere journey' so in the end I carried on through to the other side and went down to MoreLondon.

That isn’t the final setup. There are a few of the usual suspects outside the upper concourse gateline already, but there’s also going to be many in the east/west passageway leading to the underground, and a few other places on the west side of the main concourse that are outside the gate-line...

 

[Mikey C]

No idea why it's taking so long to finish the passageway to the Underground and get all the shops open.

 

[Kite159]

Oh gosh the amount of times I wish that Greggs was open for a quick breakfast or lunch. "Summer 2018" sure

Although I suspect when it eventually opens it will carry a premium over other Greggs (i.e. £4 for a baguette & drink)

 

[387star]

Things are happening

Platform ten was breeze blocks for ages but is now being worked on.. not sure what is going on there though

Departure screens on upper concoirse relocated as well
It's the underground passage yet to openand the one that is open has a lot still closed off

 

[ijmad]

That isn’t the final setup. There are a few of the usual suspects outside the upper concourse gateline already, but there’s also going to be many in the east/west passageway leading to the underground, and a few other places on the west side of the main concourse that are outside the gate-line...

There aren't any more places in the west side of the main concourse outside the gateline. The gaps between the shops that were hoarded off are actually access points to Stainer Street, they were previously covered by hoardings but these went at the weekend and trestle gates have been fitted (presumably so the station can be closed at night). Though there are two spots on Stainer Street itself near the Tooley Street end according to the map/plans, we'll see who ends up there I guess!

As you say though, there are about 10 spots that are yet to be filled in the Western concourse (underground passage) although some of these are very small, perhaps more suitable for a takeway-style coffee bar (for example) rather than a full-sized shop. Likewise there are a few small spots on the upper concourse near thew new information point and a few more outside around the bus station, including the large two-floor building which is destined to be a casual restaurant with some outdoor tables too if the CGI of the original transformation plan is to be believed.

Last but not least there are many spots pointing out on to Tooley Street and St Thomas Street still to be filled. I assume this is where Honest Burger, McDonalds and the rumoured Wetherspoons will be finding their homes.

 

[tsr]

Currently-available food and drink outlets outside the gateline are roughly as follows:

Upper Concourse:
Caffe Nero
Upper Crust
Pasty shop
Delice de France
Bread Box
M&S
WH Smith

Lower Concourse:
Caffe Nero (on the outside face of the station building on St Thomas St)
Krispy Kreme (near the ticket office and TVMs)
Pret
M&S (in the arcade)

Inside the gateline:
Costa
Leon
The newsagenty place near the Southeastern platforms
Greggs (to follow shortly...)


Outside the station entirely:

St Thomas side:
Sainsbury’s within the hospital grounds
Coffee cart in the mornings near the Shard escalators
Shard eateries

Tooley St side:
Pret/Starbucks etc. in the Hays Galleria complex
Eat/M&S/restaurant chains in the More London complex
Tesco / H+H / Costa over the road near the PwC offices

As you say though, there are about 10 spots that are yet to be filled in the Western concourse (underground passage) although some of these are very small, perhaps more suitable for a takeway-style coffee bar (for example) rather than a full-sized shop. Likewise there are a few small spots on the upper concourse near thew new information point and a few more outside around the bus station, including the large two-floor building which is destined to be a casual restaurant with some outdoor tables too if the CGI of the original transformation plan is to be believed.

Last but not least there are many spots pointing out on to Tooley Street and St Thomas Street still to be filled. I assume this is where Honest Burger, McDonalds and the rumoured Wetherspoons will be finding their homes.

I was under the impression that more than one restaurant/pub type of venue would occupy said two-storey structure on one side of the Upper Concourse. One of these could be Wetherspoons or similar - not sure.

Can’t comment for how much, if anything, may be positioned on the Upper Concourse itself, away from the clearly-defined outlets each side of it.

 

[ijmad]

Lower Concourse:
Caffe Nero (on the outside face of the station building on St Thomas St)
Krispy Kreme (near the ticket office and TVMs)
Pret
M&S (in the arcade)

You forgot Boots. Excellent meal deal available, better value than Sainsburys! Plus a second WHSmith that sells snacks and drinks. The other two non-food shops in that row are Body Shop, TM Lewin and Accessorize.

There is also a Hotel Chocolat next to Krispy Kreme, that sells luxury chocolate goods, probably not a good choice for lunch.

Caffe Nero (on the outside face of the station building on St Thomas St)

There is now a Yo! Sushi a few doors down from that in one of the St Thomas St arches.

The newsagenty place near the Southeastern platforms

Urban Express

I was under the impression that more than one restaurant/pub type of venue would occupy said two-storey structure on one side of the Upper Concourse. One of these could be Wetherspoons or similar - not sure.

Can’t comment for how much, if anything, may be positioned on the Upper Concourse itself, away from the clearly-defined outlets each side of it.

Interesting, it doesn't look big enough for that, but we'll see what they pack in I guess. A Wetherspoons might fit okay there, but I think a casual restaurant with less emphasis on alcohol would likely work better, not sure I like the idea of people knocking back pints right next to a busy bus station, or whether it creates the right atmosphere opposite the fair classy entrance to the Shard offices and View from the Shard!

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Is there a waiting room anywhere at London Bridge? A couple of days ago I had a 15 minute wait for a train there late in the evening, and it was pretty cold, even down on the main concourse. I dread to think what it'll be like in the middle of winter there if there isn't an enclosed waiting room.

 

[FOH]

Is there a waiting room anywhere at London Bridge? A couple of days ago I had a 15 minute wait for a train there late in the evening, and it was pretty cold, even down on the main concourse. I dread to think what it'll be like in the middle of winter there if there isn't an enclosed waiting room.

I can’t think of one. And you’re right, it’s frickin freezing in winter, the wind whistles through and the narrow and high canopies allow snow to fall on platform surfaces

 

[Barn]

Currently-available food and drink outlets outside the gateline are roughly as follows:
Outside the station entirely:

St Thomas side:
Sainsbury’s within the hospital grounds
Coffee cart in the mornings near the Shard escalators
Shard eateries

Tooley St side:
Pret/Starbucks etc. in the Hays Galleria complex
Eat/M&S/restaurant chains in the More London complex
Tesco / H+H / Costa over the road near the PwC offices

Might be included in your 'Shard eateries' item, but there is also a Starbucks, an Itsu and a hipster coffee thing in the Retail Arcade which emerges between the barrier lines in the Tube station.

 

[ijmad]

Wondering if the Nespresso desk on the lower concourse is permanent or just a popup. It's been there a while.

 

[ijmad]

Had a look around today.

New food/drink coming:

• Comptoir - lebanese food, in the arch right next to the main entrance (Shipwrights Arms side) on Tooley Street.
• Starbucks - logo has appear over an archway on Tooley Street about halfway between Joiner Street and Stainer Street.

New shops coming in the Western Arcade:

• James Shoe Care - high end shoe repair and dry cleaning at its other locations
  
• Aveda Men - hair care and barber shop in other locations - wonder if they'll have actual chairs or if they're just selling grooming product
• Whistles - high end mens and womens fashion

 

[snowball]

Had a look around today.

• James Shoe Care - high end shoe repair and dry cleaning at its other locations

A useful establishment to have in third-rail territory.

 

[Mikey C]

A useful establishment to have in third-rail territory.

It would be interesting to see the criteria for choosing retail outlets. If it for commuters, or is it to tap in the trendy area (Shard, Borough Market etc) as the 2 groups might have different desires.

 

[philjo]

I changed trains at London Bridge on Monday - travelling into Waterloo so then crossed to Waterloo East & change at London Bridge onto the Thameslink Cambridge train.
There seems to be only one lift for each island platform. The lift was out of order on the platform I arrived on so had to take my luggage down the long escalator. There was another passenger with a pushchair and suitcase who was stuck on the platform as obviously she could not take these onto the escalator.
For a major station that has been rebuilt I would have expected there to be 2 lifts for each platform.

 

[Barn]

I changed trains at London Bridge on Monday - travelling into Waterloo so then crossed to Waterloo East & change at London Bridge onto the Thameslink Cambridge train.
There seems to be only one lift for each island platform. The lift was out of order on the platform I arrived on so had to take my luggage down the long escalator. There was another passenger with a pushchair and suitcase who was stuck on the platform as obviously she could not take these onto the escalator.
For a major station that has been rebuilt I would have expected there to be 2 lifts for each platform.

The problem is not so much in having one lift per se, it's the frequency and duration of the breakdowns. They really do not seem particularly reliable and/or they need to increase the service levels on their lift contractor.

 

[ijmad]

The problem is not so much in having one lift per se, it's the frequency and duration of the breakdowns. They really do not seem particularly reliable and/or they need to increase the service levels on their lift contractor.

Indeed, if they only broke down for a few hours a year then you might say it's an acceptable trade off to send those requiring step-free access via another route for that one journey per year that would be potentially affected (e.g. you can get on ex-CST or ex-CHR southbound services by going north and changing back step free, you can get to Blackfriars via Cannon Street and the westbound Circle step free).

But not good enough if the breakdowns are going to be weekly, or monthly.

Do the various disability statues have anything to say about how long alternative arrangements or lack of access is permitted to go on for if there's a mechanical breakdown I wonder?

Obviously two lifts everywhere would be better, but would they have fitted in to the design?

 

[FOH]

Two slightly less deep lifts back to back would’ve been fine

 

[samuelmorris]

This is the problem with having lifts designating stations disabled-accessible. Ostensibly Stratford's Jubilee line platforms are disabled accessible due to there being a lift, but it's so rarely in service it's not remotely appropriate to advertise that the station is disabled accessible. There needs to be a minimum uptime threshold to qualify for that status really.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The problem is not so much in having one lift per se, it's the frequency and duration of the breakdowns. They really do not seem particularly reliable and/or they need to increase the service levels on their lift contractor.

Yes, that is very bad. And actually I would say having only one lift is an issue even when it's working: I have seen a few times when the single lift is temporarily not able to cope with the demand, and people who've just got off a train end up having to queue while the lift does a round trip. In total it probably only adds up to a minute or so's delay, but must be pretty frustrating for people who can't use the escalators, and who have to watch all the people who can heading down the escalators while they have to wait.

 

[ijmad]

Stainer Street has opened, with surprising lampshades.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpCKLmZFxfi

 

[387star]

Yes at long last all hoardings removed in the underground passageways. Loads more space in the passageway that cuts through Stainer Street towards the tube

Greggs remains unopened and fenced off

 

[ianBR]

Having watched a team of about 12 people work on the concrete paving outside the shard entrance for nearly 6 months now I’m convinced this is something of a scam

I’ve seen bigger areas than this be paved in a week and have no idea what these people are doing all day long

Perhaps they are relaying the same stones multiple times as there doesn’t seem to be any other possible explanation as to how little could change on a week to week basis - the whole area has looked 95% done for at least 3 months now.

 

[387star]

Having watched a team of about 12 people work on the concrete paving outside the shard entrance for nearly 6 months now I’m convinced this is something of a scam

I’ve seen bigger areas than this be paved in a week and have no idea what these people are doing all day long

Perhaps they are relaying the same stones multiple times as there doesn’t seem to be any other possible explanation as to how little could change on a week to week basis - the whole area has looked 95% done for at least 3 months now.

What about Finsbury park
Just what is going on in that tunnel?
Not a nice station environment. The subway has that unpleasant underground smell blowing out of the air vents

 

[ijmad]

Having watched a team of about 12 people work on the concrete paving outside the shard entrance for nearly 6 months now I’m convinced this is something of a scam

I’ve seen bigger areas than this be paved in a week and have no idea what these people are doing all day long

Perhaps they are relaying the same stones multiple times as there doesn’t seem to be any other possible explanation as to how little could change on a week to week basis - the whole area has looked 95% done for at least 3 months now.

I'm wondering if the earlier rain water ingress in to the Western arcade have led to complex drainage requirements under the paving, given that area is right above the passage. Might explain why it's all moving so slowly? I don't know, but that's my working theory.