....screamed the headline on the front page of the Evening Standard on
Friday:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23918471-.do

Here's the rather more sober low-down from TfL:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/proj...nges/5140.aspx
or via http://tinyurl.com/Victoria-escalator-work

Essentially the three escalators that directly lead between the ticket
hall and the Victoria line platforms need to be refurbished, and
they're going to be done one-by-one over the course of the next year
which means there'll only be two in action at any one point in time.

As a result, between 4pm and 8pm each weekday these escalators will
only run upwards for Victoria line pax exiting the station - those
entering and heading for the Victoria line will need to take the
longer route via the subsurface Circle & District line platforms (my
guess - and it's just a guess - is that the route from the subsurface
C&D platforms down to the Victoria line will likely be made one way
during this time, so those changing from Vic to the C&D lines will
have to circulate via the ticket hall.)

The basic advice being given is to try and avoid using Victoria Tube
station at busier times if possible - though my reckoning is that
those getting off the Victoria line and exiting in the evening peak
will be ok as there'll still be two escalators going up (as is
normally the case). I can imagine the morning peak might be trickier,
as there'll only be the one escalator going directly down from the
ticket hall to the Vic line - though it should still be possible to
get to the Vic line via the subsurface C&D platforms (wiley pax might
fare better entering the station via the entrance north of Terminus
Place, i.e. the bus station).

I dare say commuters would likely do well to avoid Victoria
Underground station altogether and poss. consider rerouting away from
Victoria entirely (e.g. London Bridge. Elephant & Castle, Brixton
etc). Pimlico Tube station on the Victoria line is an easy walk of
just over half a mile away so walk 10 mins or so.

Lots of buses too, but particularly worth noting is the uber-frequent
bus corridor leading up from Victoria to Marble Arch via Park Lane
(e.g. the 36 and 436 are a good way to get over to Paddington) - this
bus spider map for Victoria shows what's what (PDF):
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaro...toria-2277.pdf

I dunno how bad things will be away from the rush hour(s), though I
did actually (eventually) exit through Victoria Tube station earlier
today (Sunday) having got off the Victoria line - there was a large
queue of people waiting to ascend the single escalator that was in use
up to the ticket hall, so not fancying the look of it I turned round
and headed for the alternative exit via the subsurface C&D line
platforms - alas this was closed, as the Circle and a chunk of the
District weren't running through Victoria courtesy of our old friend,
weekend engineering works. I'd think that if possible it'd be a rather
good idea to open up this route as an exit even if the C&D lines
aren't running (unless the work on the subsurface lines might somehow
prevent this, but unless it's actually happening right there at
Victoria SSL station then I can't see this being a problem - unless
I'm missing something).

I returned to the queue and it took perhaps five minutes, possibly
more, until I was at the escalator - everyone had resigned to waiting
patiently, and live PA announcements had begun being made (which were
honest in describing the works as ongoing for the next year, to the
resigned sighs of the crowd). I got the feeling from the PA
announcements that it may have been a particularly bad moment - a game
at the Arsenal had finished not too long beforehand for instance - but
I'll think twice before going that way again if there's no secondary
exit via the subsurface C&D platforms, and I definitely won't be
relying on making any très rapide five minute Tube to rail connections
there!

One last think - without getting into the whole nomenclature debate
w.r.t. development and all that, the final comment in the ES piece is
suitably daft ("Sometimes it feels like I'm in the third world in
London") - one wonders if the student who was quoted knows much about
the transport systems in place in say Lagos. Of course the Standard's
template for such articles effectively mandates such a finishing
flourish - it's more or less hard-coded into ES hacks as one of their
prime directives.

In message
, at
16:40:33 on Sun, 30 Jan 2011, Mizter T remarked:
Essentially the three escalators that directly lead between the ticket
hall and the Victoria line platforms need to be refurbished, and
they're going to be done one-by-one over the course of the next year
which means there'll only be two in action at any one point in time.

As a result, between 4pm and 8pm each weekday these escalators will
only run upwards for Victoria line pax exiting the station - those
entering and heading for the Victoria line will need to take the
longer route via the subsurface Circle & District line platforms (my
guess - and it's just a guess - is that the route from the subsurface
C&D platforms down to the Victoria line will likely be made one way
during this time, so those changing from Vic to the C&D lines will
have to circulate via the ticket hall.)

I quite often use the Victoria Line from Victoria to Kings Cross during
the evening peak. There's always a queue to join the one downwards
escalator, so it will be quite busy going via the subsurface platforms.

I'm assuming this closure overlaps with continuing closure of
Blackfriars, so there's not much joy in heading that way as an
alternative N/S route?
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote:

In message
,
at 16:40:33 on Sun, 30 Jan 2011, Mizter T remarked:

Essentially the three escalators that directly lead between the ticket
hall and the Victoria line platforms need to be refurbished, and
they're going to be done one-by-one over the course of the next year
which means there'll only be two in action at any one point in time.

As a result, between 4pm and 8pm each weekday these escalators will
only run upwards for Victoria line pax exiting the station - those
entering and heading for the Victoria line will need to take the
longer route via the subsurface Circle & District line platforms (my
guess - and it's just a guess - is that the route from the subsurface
C&D platforms down to the Victoria line will likely be made one way
during this time, so those changing from Vic to the C&D lines will
have to circulate via the ticket hall.)

I quite often use the Victoria Line from Victoria to Kings Cross during
the evening peak. There's always a queue to join the one downwards
escalator, so it will be quite busy going via the subsurface platforms.

It's not uncommon for there to be temporary closures in the morning peak
because of overcrowding in the station, so I guess these works can only
exacerbate things, and also further spread the passenger flow and crowding
issues resulting in a greater impact more on the subsurface C&D line
platforms (and ticket hall) too.


I'm assuming this closure overlaps with continuing closure of Blackfriars,
so there's not much joy in heading that way as an alternative N/S route?


Yes, Blackfriars Underground station is closed until "late 2011".

[I'm not quite sure what the proper netiquette is in this situation, but the
post I wrote last night with the above subject and sent via Google Groups
doesn't appear to have propagated properly (well it's absent from one
popular news server at least) - so having written it I might as well send it
out into the ether again.]

--------------------

"Don't Use Victoria [Tube] Station For A Year"

....screamed the headline on the front page of the Evening Standard on
Friday:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23918471-.do

Here's the rather more sober low-down from TfL:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/proj...nges/5140.aspx
or via http://tinyurl.com/Victoria-escalator-work

Essentially the three escalators that directly lead between the ticket hall
and the Victoria line platforms need to be refurbished, and they're going to
be done one-by-one over the course of the next year which means there'll
only be two in action at any one point in time.

As a result, between 4pm and 8pm each weekday these escalators will only run
upwards for Victoria line pax exiting the station - those entering and
heading for the Victoria line will need to take the longer route via the
subsurface Circle & District line platforms (my guess - and it's just a
guess - is that the route from the subsurface C&D platforms down to the
Victoria line will likely be made one way
during this time, so those changing from Vic to the C&D lines will have to
circulate via the ticket hall.)

The basic advice being given is to try and avoid using Victoria Tube station
at busier times if possible - though my reckoning is that those getting off
the Victoria line and exiting in the evening peak will be ok as there'll
still be two escalators going up (as is normally the case). I can imagine
the morning peak might be trickier, as there'll only be the one escalator
going directly down from the ticket hall to the Vic line - though it should
still be possible to get to the Vic line via the subsurface C&D platforms
(wiley pax might fare better entering the station via the entrance north of
Terminus Place, i.e. the bus station).

I dare say commuters would likely do well to avoid Victoria Underground
station altogether and poss. consider rerouting away from Victoria entirely
(e.g. London Bridge. Elephant & Castle, Brixton
etc). Pimlico Tube station on the Victoria line is an easy walk of just over
half a mile away so walk 10 mins or so.

Lots of buses too, but particularly worth noting is the uber-frequent bus
corridor leading up from Victoria to Marble Arch via Park Lane (e.g. the 36
and 436 are a good way to get over to Paddington) - this
bus spider map for Victoria shows what's what (PDF):
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaro...toria-2277.pdf

I dunno how bad things will be away from the rush hour(s), though I did
actually (eventually) exit through Victoria Tube station earlier today
(Sunday) having got off the Victoria line - there was a large
queue of people waiting to ascend the single escalator that was in use up to
the ticket hall, so not fancying the look of it I turned round and headed
for the alternative exit via the subsurface C&D line
platforms - alas this was closed, as the Circle and a chunk of the District
weren't running through Victoria courtesy of our old friend, weekend
engineering works. I'd think that if possible it'd be a rather
good idea to open up this route as an exit even if the C&D lines aren't
running (unless the work on the subsurface lines might somehow prevent this,
but unless it's actually happening right there at Victoria SSL station then
I can't see this being a problem - unless I'm missing something).

I returned to the queue and it took perhaps five minutes, possibly more,
until I was at the escalator - everyone had resigned to waiting patiently,
and live PA announcements had begun being made (which were honest in
describing the works as ongoing for the next year, to the resigned sighs of
the crowd). I got the feeling from the PA announcements that it may have
been a particularly bad moment - a game
at the Arsenal had finished not too long beforehand for instance - but I'll
think twice before going that way again if there's no secondary exit via the
subsurface C&D platforms, and I definitely won't be
relying on making any très rapide five minute Tube to rail connections
there!

One last think - without getting into the whole nomenclature debate w.r.t.
development and all that, the final comment in the ES piece is suitably daft
("Sometimes it feels like I'm in the third world in London") - one wonders
if the student who was quoted knows much about the transport systems in
place in say Lagos. Of course the Standard's template for such articles
effectively mandates such a finishing
flourish - it's more or less hard-coded into ES hacks as one of their prime
directives.

Mizter T wrote:

[I'm not quite sure what the proper netiquette is in this situation, but the
post I wrote last night with the above subject and sent via Google Groups
doesn't appear to have propagated properly (well it's absent from one
popular news server at least) - so having written it I might as well send it
out into the ether again.]

Surely it's in need of a stiumulant rather than an anaesthetic?
--
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p9632889.html
(33 112 at Reading, 1 Jun 1985)

"Chris Tolley" (ukonline really) wrote:

Mizter T wrote:

[I'm not quite sure what the proper netiquette is in this situation, but
the
post I wrote last night with the above subject and sent via Google Groups
doesn't appear to have propagated properly (well it's absent from one
popular news server at least) - so having written it I might as well send
it
out into the ether again.]

Surely it's in need of a stiumulant rather than an anaesthetic?


Yes, it was rather longwinded I know! ;-)

(I will endeavour to spell it aether in the future!)

In message , at 11:43:32 on Mon,
31 Jan 2011, Ian Jelf remarked:

One last think - without getting into the whole nomenclature debate
w.r.t. development and all that, the final comment in the ES piece is
suitably daft ("Sometimes it feels like I'm in the third world in
London") - one wonders if the student who was quoted knows much about
the transport systems in place in say Lagos.

Actually, I often *do* find myself wondering what public transport *is*
like in such places. Does anyone here actually have first hand
experience of using it, because I'd genuinely be interested to know.

It's very likely to be a shared minibus scheme. Halfway between a taxi
and a hail-a-ride bus on a vaguely pre-planned route.
--
Roland Perry

In message
, at
16:40:33 on Sun, 30 Jan 2011, Mizter T remarked:
As a result, between 4pm and 8pm each weekday these escalators will
only run upwards for Victoria line pax exiting the station - those
entering and heading for the Victoria line will need to take the
longer route via the subsurface Circle & District line platforms (my
guess - and it's just a guess - is that the route from the subsurface
C&D platforms down to the Victoria line will likely be made one way
during this time, so those changing from Vic to the C&D lines will
have to circulate via the ticket hall.)

Wasn't there something medium-term about year ago happening that meant
you had to use the northern half of the ticket hall and go via the
subsurface pedestrian routes? Maybe it was longer ago than that.

I'm currently avoiding Victoria anyway, as its such a mess at street
level.
--
Roland Perry