Poorly communicated GWML engineering works

[Cl378User]

I’ve been caught out by the GWML evening relief line closures tonight (closing all the Elizabeth line stations without platforms on the fasts) - which I’m usually able to avoid through advance planning.

However, this closure specifically seems to have been much poorly communicated than usual. It wasn’t listed on TfL’s weekend update email (despite similar weekday evening closures on the Overground being listed), the TfL Go app didn’t update to reflect the changes until when the closure actually started (which is… unhelpful when checking for ~30 minutes later), and (unlike previous evening closures) trains didn’t have any announcements forewarning the changes.

I fully understand why works are necessary… but surely it’s in everyone’s interest to communicate them more clearly than they have been?

 

[Watershed]

This reminds me of this unannounced early closure of the Heathrow branch which I encountered back in March. I only just made it onto the last train of the day that was still running from Heathrow, due to my flight being early.

TfL have a long way to go when it comes to improving their customer communications on the Elizabeth line. That goes for stopping patterns (I regularly see people confused and overcarried because semi-fast trains aren't clearly distinguished), as well as engineering works like you say, and on-the-day disruption.

There are posters at some stations which mention the Relief Line closures, but that is only of use if you are a regular passenger and have recently been to an affected station.

Announcements onboard the trains do mention all-day Sunday closures, but they don't mention late night closures. I appreciate there's a nuance there, since those announcements can't cover every scenario (e.g. one individual train terminating short or skip-stopping). However if you're signed up to receive emails from TfL and have the app they're promoting, I would expect better information.