On Thu, 8 Jul 2010 07:04:30 -0700 (PDT), Mizter T
wrote:

Interesting - if so, there might be something of a left-hand (FGW)
right-hand (LU) situation here - but it would be interesting to hear
more from regular users of these gates, or indeed see the usage stats
before and after, so as to be surer as to what degree the new Circle/
teacup line arrangement may have affected matters.

It has put a lot of extra passengers onto the bridge, who (like me)
might not have been there before. That said, it is a more convenient
service, with about 12tph to Euston instead of 6, and better spaced.

I suppose that one could put forward the case that it's used by
regular users, such as commuters, who are likely to have a season
ticket or Oyster card - and the gates could be configured to provide
'free passage' through the CTA (though such an arrangement is open to
abuse, with bods touching-out on the gate but not walking through it,
and instead staying within the CTA so as to board a train to
wherever).

That option is already available at any London terminal to anyone
holding a Travelcard with Zone 1 on it. Sometimes it is necessary to
exit through a manual gate, but it is a valid ticket to be on the
station. I've used it to use the bogs at City Thameslink before

It is a complication, though, as you say.

Must admit that I was a bit surprised when the Teacup/ Lasso
(whatever!) went ahead without there being any changes at Paddington
H&C platforms - I recall alighting there some time before the changes,
not during the rush-hour either (poss. shoulder-peak), and standing
right at the back of a queue of people waiting to climb the stairs (I
was in no rush) - the number of people hauling luggage up the stairs
(and not holding up for a moment for the non-luggaged folk to go
first) was a significant contributory factor, but even without the
luggage the number of people would have prevented a quick escape. I
spoke to the platform assistant on duty and he said it was always like
that!

They've started blocking people from going down when the platform is
dangerously full, and this seems to work, though they can only do it
for so long because it can create a crowd problem on the bridge if it
reaches back to the barriers. (Indeed, on the way in, the barriers
perhaps moderate this a bit, so there's one thing in favour of them).
This seems to work, though it's annoying if you have to let a train
go. They did it for the first time I've seen this morning - but the
infrastructure is still not up to it - a second set of stairs on the
other side is still needed.

One last thing - I dunno how it would compare to using the Circle/H&C
line (slower I'm sure), but one alternate option for a Paddington to
Euston journey might be the 18 (bendy) bus that traverses Harrow Road
- you'd need to use the aforementioned northern exit from Paddington,
and use the pedestrian subway under the road. The 18 is a busy route,
though it might be ok in the contra-peak direction. Just and idea -
though it might well be more useful in a snafu situation as opposed to
during the normal course of events (when others might be heading to
the front of Paddington for the 205 bus).

I did wonder which way the 18 went. Might give it a go tomorrow.

Neil
--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
To reply put my first name before the at.