In message , at 11:39:06 on
Tue, 15 Feb 2011, Paul Scott remarked:
I think we are all perhaps underestimating the extent to which there's
this clockwise one-way system. South along the mainline platforms through
the gates to the new plaza, and then through the domed area via the bridge
to the platforms. You can't get to the ticket office, suburban platforms
or St Pancras without that detour, and they seem quite keen to stop people
taking a short cut to the mainline platforms.

Sorry Roland, but you seem to be rather fixed on the idea that the main
entrance flow will be via the footbridge,

I'm prepared to relax that view; but one thing's for sure, you can't go
from the platforms to the west via the overbridge.

but all the evidence is that it is scaled for only about 20% of the
entrance flows, in terms of numbers of barriers, and its access is from
the catering floor through a relatively small opening in the western
offices.

The main entrance flow is clearly via the southern end of the new
ticket hall at ground level, which is why the large space is being
created at the buffer stop end of (current) platforms 5-8.

That's still got a substantial "clockwise" component, as you have to
first get into the new National Rail ticket hall before you can access
those departure barriers.

It's also presumably why the vast majority of the waiting area for
passengers is on the ground floor - that's where there's a large area
of seating.

That doesn't necessarily follow. The same (downstairs seating/waiting)
is true of the Eurostar departure lounge next door at St Pancras, where
the trains are accessed "upstairs" once they've announced which platform
it is.
--
Roland Perry