In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message , at
15:25:35 on Sun, 13 Feb 2011, remarked:

On a slightly different note is there any way that this gateline
can plausibly cope with a crush loaded East Coast train arriving
or is this just a plot to make train travel as unpleasant as
possible.

Plenty of other stations are like that - a morning peak Shenfield
train coming into Liverpool St takes quite a while to get through
the barriers. I would doubt this would put Network Rail off at
Kings Cross either.

And somewhat closer to home, a packed 8-car FCC arriving at Kings
Cross Suburban.

How about a packed 12-car FCC arriving at Kings Cross main shed?

I wasn't aware that these were currently arriving at barriered
platforms, but if you say they are, then that would be another way
to predict how much chaos would ensue when an Intercity arrives at
a barriered platform.

Only more so! Where do the current 12-car services arrive in the mornings?
If at any of platforms 0-3 (4 & 5 are out of action) then it will be
happening now at least occasionally.

When I arrive on the 09:20 at platform 11 as often as not they leave the
gates open. The staff opened the gates in front of me this morning. They
weren't close enough to check the ticket I was holding in my hand.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On 14 Feb, 12:45, wrote:
In article , (Roland





Perry) wrote:
In message , at
15:25:35 on Sun, 13 Feb 2011, remarked:

On a slightly different note is there any way that this gateline
can plausibly cope with a crush loaded East Coast train arriving
or is this just a plot to make train travel as unpleasant as
possible.

Plenty of other stations are like that - a morning peak Shenfield
train coming into Liverpool St takes quite a while to get through
the barriers. I would doubt this would put Network Rail off at
Kings Cross either.

And somewhat closer to home, a packed 8-car FCC arriving at Kings
Cross Suburban.

How about a packed 12-car FCC arriving at Kings Cross main shed?

I wasn't aware that these were currently arriving at barriered
platforms, but if you say they are, then that would be another way
to predict how much chaos would ensue when an Intercity arrives at
a barriered platform.

Only more so! Where do the current 12-car services arrive in the mornings?
If at any of platforms 0-3 (4 & 5 are out of action) then it will be
happening now at least occasionally.

When I arrive on the 09:20 at platform 11 as often as not they leave the
gates open. The staff opened the gates in front of me this morning. They
weren't close enough to check the ticket I was holding in my hand.

--
Colin Rosenstiel- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

What happens regarding Hull Trains and Grand Central where passengers
are able to buy tickets on board?

In message
, at
05:22:16 on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, George
remarked:
What happens regarding Hull Trains and Grand Central where passengers
are able to buy tickets on board?

Apparently what's happened at other stations with barriers is that this
"buy on board" facility no longer exists. There's been a suggestion that
these trains might use Platform 8 at Kings Cross in the mean time, as
that will be the last one to be barriered off (I have no idea when
that's going to happen, but I would expect it to be after they've
finished the new ticket hall).
--
Roland Perry

In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message , at 11:35:23
on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, Mizter T remarked:
They are also refusing point blank to replace the screen in the tube
subway and are proud to make every passenger walk through to the
Northern ticket hall to find out whether they need the suburban or
main sheds. Evil *******s.

Was this a screen in the passageway between the (old) main ticket hall
and the northern ticket hall? If so I guess it's always possible that
it was causing congestion.

Colin could be referring to the one in the *old* passageway (at the
junction where you went left then outside for the suburban
platforms, and right for the main concourse), rather than a more
recent one that's been installed and taken away again.

I was indeed referring to the old one. I'm not aware of anything since
then. The old one wasn't that old. I remember complaining that it was
needed shortly after starting work in London in 2001.

It's needed now so as then that passengers know which way to turn, for the
main or suburban platforms, as they emerge from the tube.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message , at 11:38:04
on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, Mizter T remarked:

Other London termini stations have gates and 12 car trains too - thus
far sky hasn't fallen in.

...which is much the same point that Martin Petrov was making upthread.

I think we almost all share this view. Although when Roy said "cope
with", I wonder if he meant "without a queue developing".

Liverpool Street is hardly a pleasant experience when arriving on a busy
train.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In message , at 07:48:03
on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, remarked:

Colin could be referring to the one in the *old* passageway (at the
junction where you went left then outside for the suburban
platforms, and right for the main concourse), rather than a more
recent one that's been installed and taken away again.

I was indeed referring to the old one. I'm not aware of anything since
then. The old one wasn't that old. I remember complaining that it was
needed shortly after starting work in London in 2001.

It's needed now so as then that passengers know which way to turn, for the
main or suburban platforms, as they emerge from the tube.

Why not head along the passage towards the Northern ticket hall, then up
the stairs to emerge in the old upstairs concourse (which will
eventually be outdoors). Is there a sign on platform 8, or is it
necessary to find the main departure board from there (which will
disappear soon as that's going to be outdoors as well).
--
Roland Perry

In message , at 07:48:03
on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, remarked:
Other London termini stations have gates and 12 car trains too - thus
far sky hasn't fallen in.

...which is much the same point that Martin Petrov was making upthread.

I think we almost all share this view. Although when Roy said "cope
with", I wonder if he meant "without a queue developing".

Liverpool Street is hardly a pleasant experience when arriving on a busy
train.

Kings Cross will become less pleasant, that's for sure. If you arrive at
St Pancras on the Midland Mainline platforms there's almost always a
scrum of trolley-bag tugging passengers who can't find their tickets,
can't work out how to put the ticket into the gate, and so on
--
Roland Perry

In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message
,
at 05:22:16 on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, George
remarked:
What happens regarding Hull Trains and Grand Central where passengers
are able to buy tickets on board?

Apparently what's happened at other stations with barriers is that
this "buy on board" facility no longer exists. There's been a
suggestion that these trains might use Platform 8 at Kings Cross in
the mean time, as that will be the last one to be barriered off (I
have no idea when that's going to happen, but I would expect it to
be after they've finished the new ticket hall).

Hmm. I think they just let people through at Cambridge but I could be
wrong. I've never had a problem being let through to see people off.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message , at
07:48:03 on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, remarked:

Colin could be referring to the one in the *old* passageway (at the
junction where you went left then outside for the suburban
platforms, and right for the main concourse), rather than a more
recent one that's been installed and taken away again.

I was indeed referring to the old one. I'm not aware of anything since
then. The old one wasn't that old. I remember complaining that it was
needed shortly after starting work in London in 2001.

It's needed now so as then that passengers know which way to turn, for
the main or suburban platforms, as they emerge from the tube.

Why not head along the passage towards the Northern ticket hall,
then up the stairs to emerge in the old upstairs concourse (which
will eventually be outdoors). Is there a sign on platform 8, or is
it necessary to find the main departure board from there (which
will disappear soon as that's going to be outdoors as well).

It's at the bottom of those stairs that the screen is needed. Up the
stairs for platforms 0-8, straight ahead for platforms 9-11.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In message , at 11:48:39
on Mon, 14 Feb 2011, remarked:

Why not head along the passage towards the Northern ticket hall,
then up the stairs to emerge in the old upstairs concourse (which
will eventually be outdoors). Is there a sign on platform 8, or is
it necessary to find the main departure board from there (which
will disappear soon as that's going to be outdoors as well).

It's at the bottom of those stairs that the screen is needed. Up the
stairs for platforms 0-8, straight ahead for platforms 9-11.

Looking ahead to the final configuration, those stairs are mainly an
entrance to the Underground, being outdoors and the natural feed from
the barriers along the southern face of the station. To get to any of
the platforms will require an awkward U-turn back towards the "dome". So
it's pretty clear they want you to exit via the northern ticket hall and
thence to the mainline platforms via the new bridge, or rather more
directly to the suburban platforms.

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.

It's all fine and wonderful if the ECML is a faux airline and KGX a faux
airline terminal, but commuter trains in the main shed are not going to
be a good fit.
--
Roland Perry