St Pancras Thameslink Harrington humps

[Bletchleyite]

I noticed the other day that the brand-new Harrington humps at St Pancras don't actually provide level boarding. There is a step of about 1-1.5" upwards to the train, and a similar gap between the end of the stepboard and the platform. This isn't massive, but it would mean that simply wheeling your own wheelchair on and off would potentially be a bit awkward when compared to "true" level boarding (same level and a gap of less than an inch) as found, for example, on Heathrow Express, or the fully bridged (moving step) gap proposed for Merseyrail.

Does anyone know why this is? Clearly the track isn't awaiting tamping because it's slab track. It does seem rather sub-optimal.

 

[edwin_m]

The tolerance for level boarding is up to 5cm vertically I think, and the tolerable lateral gap is even more. Whatever the value is it's a surprisingly large number and doesn't seem to be questioned so I presume wheelchair users have no problem with it. Train floor height may vary as the wheels wear and are turned to a smaller diameter - some tram operators add packing shims to compensate but I'm not sure if this happens with trains.

 

[387star]

On Platform B there is hoarding around the bottom of the stairs what's that to do with?

 

[spinba11]

I’m assuming that’s the unfinished part.

 

[AM9]

'Par'?

 

[spinba11]

it should say part.

 

[AM9]

OK, - well I saw that last weekend and it is right at the back of the platform and doesn't seem to be part of the hump construction unless it is to build the level up to match the lift entrance.

 

[jon0844]

I look at the height difference and do wonder how easy some wheelchair users would find it to board themselves. Alighting wouldn't be a problem as it's a drop, but it does seem like someone got some measurements wrong somewhere along the line (sic).

 

[spinba11]

I was on about the boarded up bit on the hump, I find getting on very easy

 

[jon0844]

Not sure what the relevance is of part of the platform still due to get work done. The point is the hump is a fair bit lower than the step on the train. No problem coming off but possibly an issue getting on unassisted.

 

[jnjkerbin]

At Blackfriars the other day, there was a lady in a wheelchair boarding a northbound train at the Hump. The platform staff used an unusual ramp, a thin, wedge shaped one, in order to board the train. Seems a bit silly to have missed the opportunity to have perfectly level access given the uniformity of the fleet on the line.

 

[Bletchleyite]

At Blackfriars the other day, there was a lady in a wheelchair boarding a northbound train at the Hump. The platform staff used an unusual ramp, a thin, wedge shaped one, in order to board the train. Seems a bit silly to have missed the opportunity to have perfectly level access given the uniformity of the fleet on the line.

Seems bizarre, when the benefit of level boarding is meant to be the removal of the need for assistance for wheelchair-using passengers. If any kind of ramp is needed it was frankly a total waste of money.

 

[spinba11]

It reduces the amount of people who need the ramp, before it was installed I needed the ramp but I don’t now in fact I don’t need any staff member to help me.

 

[philthetube]

there might be clearance issues it the ramp is made perfectly level, possibly for other stock cleared to use the platforms, (speculation)

 

[Mikey C]

there might be clearance issues it the ramp is made perfectly level, possibly for other stock cleared to use the platforms, (speculation)

Starts speculation about the replacement of the 700s with 442s, 332s, 769s, 230s etc

Seriously, it does seem a bit odd. Surely the Thameslink timetable is so intense that they can't afford to have delays caused by having to use a manual ramp?

 

[reytomas1228]

Speaking of Thameslink humps, does anyone know if/when Farringdon will get them? Last time I passed it was the only core station without them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Starts speculation about the replacement of the 700s with 442s, 332s, 769s, 230s etc

Seriously, it does seem a bit odd. Surely the Thameslink timetable is so intense that they can't afford to have delays caused by having to use a manual ramp?

And if a manual ramp is required why bother with the hump at all? I thought the whole point was true level boarding, which objectively has not been delivered.

 

[Mikey C]

Speaking of Thameslink humps, does anyone know if/when Farringdon will get them? Last time I passed it was the only core station without them.

Are the Farringdon platforms too curved to use them?

 

[jon0844]

Are the Farringdon platforms too curved to use them?

There seems to be a clever setup of metal bars that I presume can take weight from above, but can move length-ways - presumably in case of contact with a passing train. That's all the more reason I'd have thought it possible to get the height right?

It doesn't seem as bad at other stations in the core.

 

[Supercoss]

Farringdon should be completed during possession on weekend of April 29 following some cable re routing works