Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

The lift from the old Tube Ticket Hall to the Northern line is now
open at King's Cross. It travels from level "-1" to level "-3", and
only has these options. But when the lift gets about half way between
them, or perhaps nearer to "-3", there is a tunnel on the west side
(that's the side you enter the lift on at level "-1" and the opposite
side to the exit at level "-3").

The tunnel is all lined properly like other public areas of the
station. It curves to the right (the north).

Where does it go, what is it for, and why is it lined line a public
area?

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 25/09/10 10:53, lonelytraveller wrote:
The lift from the old Tube Ticket Hall to the Northern line is now
open at King's Cross.

I've been wondering how they're going to manage the signage for this.

Presumably they'll have to remove the big "no access to the Northern
line" banner at the Tube Ticket Hall -- but if they do that the lift
will be rather overwhelmed, assuming it's still the only access to the
Northern line from that ticket hall.

-roy

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 25 Sep, 11:42, Roy Badami wrote:
On 25/09/10 10:53, lonelytraveller wrote:

The lift from the old Tube Ticket Hall to the Northern line is now
open at King's Cross.

I've been wondering how they're going to manage the signage for this.

Presumably they'll have to remove the big "no access to the Northern
line" banner at the Tube Ticket Hall -- but if they do that the lift
will be rather overwhelmed, assuming it's still the only access to the
Northern line from that ticket hall.


The short escalators were working in both directions when I was there
on Thursday, so it looks like there is access to the Northern Line
that way for now.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

"MIG" wrote in message
...

The short escalators were working in both directions when I was there
on Thursday, so it looks like there is access to the Northern Line
that way for now.

One of the early TfL announcements about this last lift did say that the
Northern line escalator restrictions were for the duration of building the
lift. Was the lower access to the lift closed off by hoardings?

Paul S

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 25 Sep, 17:14, "Paul Scott" wrote:
"MIG" wrote in message

...

The short escalators were working in both directions when I was there
on Thursday, so it looks like there is access to the Northern Line
that way for now.

One of the early TfL announcements about this last lift did say that the
Northern line escalator restrictions were for the duration of building the
lift. *Was the lower access to the lift closed off by hoardings?

Paul S

I didn't notice any more or less hoardings than usual, but I was
distracted by lateness at the time. I certainly didn't notice a lift,
but I can miss the most obvious at times.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 25 Sep, 21:45, MIG wrote:
I didn't notice any more or less hoardings than usual, but I was
distracted by lateness at the time. *I certainly didn't notice a lift,
but I can miss the most obvious at times.

Next time you're there, take the lift. If you go in from the
platforms, face the opposite way, if you go in from the ticket hall,
turn round and face the doors you came in through.

Half way through the lift journey, you'll see the passage. Then maybe
you might have an idea what it might be for, or where it goes, or why
its tiled like a public passage.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 26/09/2010 09:34, lonelytraveller wrote:

Half way through the lift journey, you'll see the passage. Then maybe
you might have an idea what it might be for, or where it goes, or why
its tiled like a public passage.

Not having sampled the Northern Line lift yet I can't comment
authoritatively, but could the "intermediate" level be one of the
concourse between the Piccadilly and Northern Lines or a link to the
(in)famous "SMILE" subway to Pentonville Road?

Cheers,

Barry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 26/09/10 21:46, Barry Salter wrote:
or a link to the
(in)famous "SMILE" subway to Pentonville Road?

What's the SMILE subway? The only hit Google brings up is a reference
to Thameslink -- is that the passageway from the old Thameslink station
to the Victoria and Piccadilly lines?

-roy

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On Sep 26, 11:20*pm, Roy Badami wrote:

On 26/09/10 21:46, Barry Salter wrote:

*or a link to the
(in)famous "SMILE" subway to Pentonville Road?

What's the SMILE subway? *The only hit Google brings up is a reference
to Thameslink -- is that the passageway from the old Thameslink station
to the Victoria and Piccadilly lines?

Yes - the old KX Thameslink station's entrance on Pentonville Road is
still open these days albeit weekdays only between (IIRC) 7am and 8pm
(responsibility for it passed from FCC Thameslink to LU).

The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 26 Sep, 21:46, Barry Salter wrote:
On 26/09/2010 09:34, lonelytraveller wrote:

Half way through the lift journey, you'll see the passage. Then maybe
you might have an idea what it might be for, or where it goes, or why
its tiled like a public passage.

Not having sampled the Northern Line lift yet I can't comment
authoritatively, but could the "intermediate" level be one of the
concourse between the Piccadilly and Northern Lines or a link to the
(in)famous "SMILE" subway to Pentonville Road?

Cheers,

Barry

Its possible certainly, but it does head west and then turn north, so
its not really going in a sensible direction for that (the Piccadilly
concourse and SMILE subway are both to the east of the lift .

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
00:24:07 on Mon, 27 Sep 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
Half way through the lift journey, you'll see the passage. Then maybe
you might have an idea what it might be for, or where it goes, or why
its tiled like a public passage.

Not having sampled the Northern Line lift yet I can't comment
authoritatively, but could the "intermediate" level be one of the
concourse between the Piccadilly and Northern Lines or a link to the
(in)famous "SMILE" subway to Pentonville Road?

Its possible certainly, but it does head west and then turn north, so
its not really going in a sensible direction for that (the Piccadilly
concourse and SMILE subway are both to the east of the lift .

A better indication of depth would help a lot. Here are some numbers
which might help (all of them "below average street level"):

Top of new Northern lift, in old booking hall lower level: 5m
Bottom of new Northern lift, platform level: 27.25m
Piccadilly concourse: 21.5m

Which gives a drop of 22.25m, with the Piccadilly concourse 74% of the
way down.

The subway to Pentonville Road wanders around a bit, but isn't anywhere
near this new lift (and also on the wrong side). I'd guess it was about
15m below street level, which is 45% of the way down the new lift shaft.

The old Northern Line lift shafts are to the west of the new lift, and
according to Clive Feather's website there is an older emergency lift
(which is most likely to be in that vicinity). I wonder if this is a
connecting passageway to that emergency lift.
--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...

The old Northern Line lift shafts are to the west of the new lift, and
according to Clive Feather's website there is an older emergency lift
(which is most likely to be in that vicinity). I wonder if this is a
connecting passageway to that emergency lift.

It isn't at all unlikely that there are unsigned links for use by the
maintenace staff of the fire brigade. Who knows what is provided for at
lower levels connected to the surface emergency access - I don't recall ever
seeing details of the 'back of house' at lower levels in any of the many
drawings I've found, or have been linked to here...

Paul S

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

Mizter T wrote on 27 September 2010 01:36:36 ...

On Sep 26, 11:20 pm, Roy wrote:

On 26/09/10 21:46, Barry Salter wrote:

or a link to the
(in)famous "SMILE" subway to Pentonville Road?

What's the SMILE subway? The only hit Google brings up is a reference
to Thameslink -- is that the passageway from the old Thameslink station
to the Victoria and Piccadilly lines?

Yes - the old KX Thameslink station's entrance on Pentonville Road is
still open these days albeit weekdays only between (IIRC) 7am and 8pm
(responsibility for it passed from FCC Thameslink to LU).

The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Because ....?
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 27 Sep, 17:17, Roland Perry wrote:
The old Northern Line lift shafts are to the west of the new lift, and
according to Clive Feather's website there is an older emergency lift
(which is most likely to be in that vicinity). I wonder if this is a
connecting passageway to that emergency lift.
--
Roland Perry

That's plausible, but why is it tiled and lit like a public area,
rather than a rough finish like an emergency access passage?

Also, what would be the point of a passage connecting two lift shafts
together, when its already fairly easy to get between the lifts at
platform level, and surface level?

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
12:29:17 on Mon, 27 Sep 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
The old Northern Line lift shafts are to the west of the new lift, and
according to Clive Feather's website there is an older emergency lift
(which is most likely to be in that vicinity). I wonder if this is a
connecting passageway to that emergency lift.

That's plausible, but why is it tiled and lit like a public area,
rather than a rough finish like an emergency access passage?

I don't know. How long is the passage? I've asked some other questions,
tacked onto your initial posting.

Also, what would be the point of a passage connecting two lift shafts
together, when its already fairly easy to get between the lifts at
platform level, and surface level?

Perhaps one or other of the (upper/lower) access points to the emergency
lift will be obscured by some other of the current works. Although one
might imagine that the new public lift could entirely obsolete the
emergency one.
--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
02:53:47 on Sat, 25 Sep 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
when the lift gets about half way between them, or perhaps nearer to
"-3", there is a tunnel on the west side (that's the side you enter the
lift on at level "-1"

When you enter the lift, are the escalators behind you, or are they
directly 'ahead' of you? Or to the side?

and the opposite side to the exit at level "-3").

When the doors open on -3, are the majority of the platforms directly
ahead of you (ignoring any kinks in short connecting passages), or are
they 'behind' you?

--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
01:34:37 on Sun, 26 Sep 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
Next time you're there, take the lift. If you go in from the
platforms, face the opposite way, if you go in from the ticket hall,
turn round and face the doors you came in through.

That suggests you need to "about-face" whichever end of the lift you
entered. So are these three doors all facing the same way, just at
different heights?
--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On Mon, 27 Sep 2010, Paul Scott wrote:

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...

The old Northern Line lift shafts are to the west of the new lift, and
according to Clive Feather's website there is an older emergency lift
(which is most likely to be in that vicinity). I wonder if this is a
connecting passageway to that emergency lift.

It isn't at all unlikely that there are unsigned links for use by the
maintenace staff of the fire brigade. Who knows what is provided for at
lower levels connected to the surface emergency access - I don't recall
ever seeing details of the 'back of house' at lower levels in any of the
many drawings I've found, or have been linked to here...

Doesn't Euston famously have some whole unused levels in its stack? And i
don't mean the parcel depot above the platforms!

tom

--
The cause? Thatcher again. Not for any specific reasons but she's always
the root of every problem in Britain today. -- Mike

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 27 Sep, 21:34, Roland Perry wrote:
That's plausible, but why is it tiled and lit like a public area,
rather than a rough finish like an emergency access passage?
I don't know. How long is the passage? I've asked some other questions,
tacked onto your initial posting.
The visible part is about as long as the eastern northern line
concourse.

Also, what would be the point of a passage connecting two lift shafts
together, when its already fairly easy to get between the lifts at
platform level, and surface level?
Perhaps one or other of the (upper/lower) access points to the emergency
lift will be obscured by some other of the current works. Although one
might imagine that the new public lift could entirely obsolete the
emergency one.
I still can't see why going up one lift half way, along a passage, and
then up the other lift, would ever be better than just going all the
way up one of the lifts?

Next time you're there, take the lift. If you go in from the
platforms, face the opposite way, if you go in from the ticket hall,
turn round and face the doors you came in through.
That suggests you need to "about-face" whichever end of the lift you
entered. So are these three doors all facing the same way, just at
different heights?
No. If you go in from the platforms, face the opposite way from the
door you came in through. If you go in from the ticket hall, turn
round and face the SAME way as the door you came in through.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 27 Sep, 21:39, Roland Perry wrote:
When you enter the lift, are the escalators behind you, or are they
directly 'ahead' of you? Or to the side?
Behind you.

and the opposite side to the exit at level "-3").
When the doors open on -3, are the majority of the platforms directly
ahead of you (ignoring any kinks in short connecting passages), or are
they 'behind' you?
Most of the platform is behind you (to your left and right). You are
facing the east end of the platforms, looking at the escalators
leading to the piccadilly line.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 28 Sep, 07:58, lonelytraveller
wrote:
On 27 Sep, 21:39, Roland Perry wrote: When you enter the lift, are the escalators behind you, or are they
directly 'ahead' of you? Or to the side?

Behind you.
That is, behind you if you enter from "-3", ahead of you if you enter
from "-1".

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
23:58:22 on Mon, 27 Sep 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
When you enter the lift, are the escalators behind you, or are they
directly 'ahead' of you? Or to the side?
Behind you.

So you've done a u-turn since going through the barriers, and are now
facing west...

If you go in from the ticket hall, turn
round and face the SAME way as the door you came in through.

So now you are facing east, which means the passage you are looking at
heads east (which is away from the original lifts, and toward
Pentonville Road).

and the opposite side to the exit at level "-3").
When the doors open on -3, are the majority of the platforms directly
ahead of you (ignoring any kinks in short connecting passages), or are
they 'behind' you?
Most of the platform is behind you (to your left and right). You are
facing the east end of the platforms, looking at the escalators
leading to the piccadilly line.

That's consistent; once again you are looking east (because the new lift
is at the eastern end of the platforms).

Unfortunately, in your original posting you said it was looking west :(

--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
23:56:45 on Mon, 27 Sep 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
On 27 Sep, 21:34, Roland Perry wrote:

That's plausible, but why is it tiled and lit like a public area,
rather than a rough finish like an emergency access passage?
I don't know. How long is the passage? I've asked some other questions,
tacked onto your initial posting.

The visible part is about as long as the eastern northern line
concourse.

I have no idea what that is (and therefore how long that is), sorry. For
example, are we talking more or less than the distance between the
platform faces?

At the end, does it disappear to the left, or the right?

Also, what would be the point of a passage connecting two lift shafts
together, when its already fairly easy to get between the lifts at
platform level, and surface level?
Perhaps one or other of the (upper/lower) access points to the emergency
lift will be obscured by some other of the current works. Although one
might imagine that the new public lift could entirely obsolete the
emergency one.

I still can't see why going up one lift half way, along a passage, and
then up the other lift, would ever be better than just going all the
way up one of the lifts?

Nor can I, but it was the best explanation we had, combined with a
general feeling that the expense of constructing these facilities
usually means there's a good reason for everything (even if we don't
immediately know what it is).

However, we now seem to have cleared up the confusion between "facing
the opposite way", and "turning round" (which at first sight are the
same activity)... and therefore the new passage would seem to head east
and not west. That is much more consistent with being a link to the
other new lifts which are on the reconstructed Pentonville Road passage,
and (if they also have a "secret doorway") would link all three of the
new deep lifts together for emergency purposes.
--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

"Mizter T" wrote in message
...


Yes - the old KX Thameslink station's entrance on Pentonville Road is
still open these days albeit weekdays only between (IIRC) 7am and 8pm
(responsibility for it passed from FCC Thameslink to LU).

The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Surely one of the most annoying design features anywhere on the network - I
can think of few things which would do more to induce rage, were I in the
middle of a difficult journey, than huge lettering exhorting me to smile

:-)

Martin

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Because ....?

Because, I assume (although it is not incredibly easy to read in that
photograph), the design on the inside of the tunnel is actually letering
that says "SMILE"

-roy

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 28 Sep, 22:59, "Martin Rich" wrote:
"Mizter T" wrote in message

...

Yes - the old KX Thameslink station's entrance on Pentonville Road is
still open these days albeit weekdays only between (IIRC) 7am and 8pm
(responsibility for it passed from FCC Thameslink to LU).
The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Surely one of the most annoying design features anywhere on the network - I
can think of few things which would do more to induce rage, were I in the
middle of a difficult journey, than huge lettering exhorting me to smile

:-)

Martin

There's always the scrolling displays outside stations, that one only
ever gets to see when locked out due to disruption, saying "there is a
good service on all London Underground Lines".

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

Roy Badami wrote on 28 September 2010 23:13:13 ...

The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Because ....?

Because, I assume (although it is not incredibly easy to read in that
photograph), the design on the inside of the tunnel is actually letering
that says "SMILE"

Oh, I see! I thought the splodges of colour were national flags or
something; didn't realise they were letters.
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 29/09/10 00:04, Richard J. wrote:

Oh, I see! I thought the splodges of colour were national flags or
something; didn't realise they were letters.

Of course, that does invite the question: "why does the lettering say
'SMILE'?"

Perhaps it says 'SMILE' because this is the SMILE subway -- if so, we're
no closer to knowing why it's so called than before...

-roy

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 29 Sep, 00:10, Roy Badami wrote:
On 29/09/10 00:04, Richard J. wrote:

Oh, I see! I thought the splodges of colour were national flags or
something; didn't realise they were letters.

Of course, that does invite the question: "why does the lettering say
'SMILE'?"

Perhaps it says 'SMILE' because this is the SMILE subway -- if so, we're
no closer to knowing why it's so called than before...


South Midland Inner London Electrics

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On Sep 29, 12:04*am, "Richard J." wrote:

Roy Badami wrote on 28 September 2010 23:13:13 ...

The Smile passageway is so called because...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67655316@N00/225943955/

Because ....?

Because, I assume (although it is not incredibly easy to read in that
photograph), the design on the inside of the tunnel is actually letering
that says "SMILE"

Oh, I see! *I thought the splodges of colour were national flags or
something; didn't realise they were letters.

And I thought you were asking me *why* it said "smile"!

There's a rather dark side to the passageway though, which doesn't
really match up with it's smiley façade.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 29/09/10 14:36, Mizter T wrote:

There's a rather dark side to the passageway though, which doesn't
really match up with it's smiley façade.

What kind of dark side? Rather more dreary decor? Dangerous to walk
down at night? Literally dark, as in lacking illumination?

I only ever used the Kings Cross Thameslink station once or twice, and I
never used the SMILE passageway.

-roy

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 29 Sep, 16:28, Roy Badami wrote:
On 29/09/10 14:36, Mizter T wrote:

There's a rather dark side to the passageway though, which doesn't
really match up with it's smiley façade.

What kind of dark side? *Rather more dreary decor? *Dangerous to walk
down at night? *Literally dark, as in lacking illumination?

I only ever used the Kings Cross Thameslink station once or twice, and I
never used the SMILE passageway.

* * *-roy

It reminds me of Moorgate and Old Street on being taken over by BR.
LU stations always seemed to be warm and bright, but give the same
basic kind of space to BR and they seemed to be able to suck all light
and warmth out of it. I've never really been able to work out how
they do it, but I guess it goes back to its BR legacy.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 29 Sep, 14:36, Mizter T wrote:

There's a rather dark side to the passageway though, which doesn't
really match up with it's smiley façade.

Because of the Kings Cross fire? That really was one of the most
unfortuate aspects of the disaster, quite apart from the personnel and
organisational failings uncovered by Fennell.

For background, at the time of day that the Kings Cross fire happened
the passageway was closed and the Bostwick gates to it from the
Piccadilly/Victoria line platforms locked. This was because the
Midland City line (subsequently Thameslink) station was at that time
closed in the evenings for the station to be upgraded and overall roof
constructed.

If the passage had been open (or had been fitted with the emergency
unlocking devices that have become standard since the fire), then it's
quite possible that many of the passengers from the tube platforms
would have been evacuated (or evacuated themselves) that way rather
than being directed up the Victoria line escalators towards the
impending flashover. Having said that I don't think anyone could have
predicted just how violently the fire would erupt from the Piccadilly
escalator shaft.

ISTR that eventually - 30-60 minutes after the flashover - someone was
finally found who could unlock the Bostwick gates and allow trapped
people to be brought to the surface through the Pentonville Road
ticket hall.

Although the 'SMILE' panelling was part of the original 1981 KX
Midland City station construction, not installed after the fire for
the Thameslink station rebuilding.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On Wed, 29 Sep 2010, Roy Badami wrote:

On 29/09/10 14:36, Mizter T wrote:

There's a rather dark side to the passageway though, which doesn't
really match up with it's smiley fa?ade.

What kind of dark side?

The outside.

tom

--
so if you hear a chaffinch out on the pull attempting a severely off-key
version of "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys then you're not actually
going mad.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message , at 16:28:54 on Wed, 29 Sep
2010, Roy Badami remarked:

I only ever used the Kings Cross Thameslink station once or twice, and
I never used the SMILE passageway.

I almost always used it as a way from the Thameslink platforms to the
main station. Avoids the weather, and the strange creatures of the night
who lurk in that part of town.
--
Roland Perry

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 29/09/10 18:01, Brian A60K wrote:

For background, at the time of day that the Kings Cross fire happened
the passageway was closed and the Bostwick gates to it from the
Piccadilly/Victoria line platforms locked. This was because the
Midland City line (subsequently Thameslink) station was at that time
closed in the evenings for the station to be upgraded and overall roof
constructed.

Ah, thank you for that context. I knew that some passengers (assisted
by a member of staff, IIRC) attempted to evacuate via a route that was
blocked by a locked gate, but I didn't know the actual location.

-roy

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 30 Sep, 00:44, Mizter T wrote:

Thanks - that was a question I wanted answered, i.e. whether the
'Smile' design came before or after the fire (as if it had come
afterwards, then I think further questions as to the appropriateness
of this motif could have been asked). FWIW the Fennell report appears
to state that this passageway was constructed a little later than you
suggest, in "1983/4".

There's truth in both dates, curiously enough! The major construction
work was largely complete in 1981 (a friend of mine had a pub with a
bird's eye view down to the KX Midland City station site), but because
of the industrial relations issues caused by the proposed DOO on the
Class 317s the service was delayed for somewhere around a year, with
the old trains soldiering on and the nice new electrics sitting in the
sidings.

I believe it was May 1983 that the electric service finally started,
despite the infrastructure having been there for around 18 months.

Incidentally, I read recently that the KX Midland City tunnel made use
of tunnel segments ordered for the Jubilee line extension (abortive
GLC version), which explained the 1976 or 1977 dates stamped on them
that I saw (and puzzled about) when part of the tunnel was retiled as
part of the Northern Ticket Hall project.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 28 Sep, 08:28, Roland Perry wrote:
I have no idea what that is (and therefore how long that is), sorry. For
example, are we talking more or less than the distance between the
platform faces?
The visible portion is slightly shorter than the distance between the
platform faces of the northern line.

At the end, does it disappear to the left, or the right?
To the right (the north)

However, we now seem to have cleared up the confusion between "facing
the opposite way", and "turning round" (which at first sight are the
same activity)... and therefore the new passage would seem to head east
and not west. That is much more consistent with being a link to the
other new lifts which are on the reconstructed Pentonville Road passage,
and (if they also have a "secret doorway") would link all three of the
new deep lifts together for emergency purposes.
No, it faces west. All phrases such as "facing the opposite way" and
"turning round" should be interpreted so that you face west at the
end. Go there yourself, and you'll see. The passage faces west. Its a
physical thing, and no amount of argument about semantics will ever
change the way it actually physically faces.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

On 30 Sep, 00:35, Mizter T wrote:
On Sep 29, 4:28*pm, Roy Badami wrote:

On 29/09/10 14:36, Mizter T wrote:

There's a rather dark side to the passageway though, which doesn't
really match up with it's smiley façade.

What kind of dark side? *Rather more dreary decor? *Dangerous to walk
down at night? *Literally dark, as in lacking illumination?

I was a bit hazy on the details, so I've just taken the opportunity to
look at an authoritative source - the Fennell Report into the King's
Cross fire. This is available on the Railways Archive website as a PDF
(which is text searchable) - see:
http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=138

What follows is just my interpretation based on a pretty quick and
distinctly incomplete scan through of the full report, so please don't
take it as gospel.

On the night of the fire, one member of LU staff redirected some
passengers to this passageway leading to the Midland City exit so as
to escape from the fire, but unbeknown to him it was blocked by locked
gates - these passengers then returned and some understandably gave
him some stick.

Why didn't they direct anyone to the northern line's emergency stairs?
They still seem to be there (behind aluminium slats on a narrow door
on each of the platforms), even now after all this building work. And
they would have lead outside the ticket hall area back then.

Or the piccadilly line stairs (assuming they are still there after the
victoria line was built - the lobby is certainly still there).?

What's the point of having emergency stairs if they are ignored when
there's an emergency.

Northern line lift at King's Cross
 

In message
, at
03:55:18 on Sun, 10 Oct 2010, lonelytraveller
remarked:
I have no idea what that is (and therefore how long that is), sorry. For
example, are we talking more or less than the distance between the
platform faces?
The visible portion is slightly shorter than the distance between the
platform faces of the northern line.

At the end, does it disappear to the left, or the right?
To the right (the north)

However, we now seem to have cleared up the confusion between "facing
the opposite way", and "turning round" (which at first sight are the
same activity)... and therefore the new passage would seem to head east
and not west. That is much more consistent with being a link to the
other new lifts which are on the reconstructed Pentonville Road passage,
and (if they also have a "secret doorway") would link all three of the
new deep lifts together for emergency purposes.
No, it faces west. All phrases such as "facing the opposite way" and
"turning round" should be interpreted so that you face west at the
end. Go there yourself, and you'll see. The passage faces west. Its a
physical thing, and no amount of argument about semantics will ever
change the way it actually physically faces.

Please excuse me if your description:

"If you go in from the ticket hall, turn round and face the SAME
way as the door you came in through."

....and your later clarification that when you go in that way you have
your back to the escalators and are therefore facing west, confused me.

Because if you turned round and faced the door you came through, you'd
be facing east. That's not semantics.
--
Roland Perry