Blackfriars underground station has re-opened a week early.

--
David Cantrell | Reality Engineer, Ministry of Information

In Victorian times, when every man wore a beard the size of a yew,
Britain ruled the world. In the early 20th century, when the beard
was trimmed to a moustache, we scraped through two world wars but
lost an empire. Today, when Mach3 Turbo multi-blades are the norm,
our national pride derives largely from beating the Swedes at
Olympic cycling.

Grow a beard. Your country needs you.

"David Cantrell" wrote in message
k...
Blackfriars underground station has re-opened a week early.

Or depending on point of view only 10 weeks late, which is a slight advance
on the planned 11 weeks late announced in December!

All the same, photos I've seen online, and plans I downloaded a while ago,
suggest a massive amount of building work to form the new underground
structures (and back of house facilities) either side of the platforms has
been undertaken. AIUI the decision to defer opening was very last minute,
so does anyone know the root cause?

Paul S

In message , at 10:48:15 on
Mon, 20 Feb 2012, Paul Scott remarked:
Blackfriars underground station has re-opened a week early.

Or depending on point of view only 10 weeks late, which is a slight
advance on the planned 11 weeks late announced in December!

All the same, photos I've seen online, and plans I downloaded a while
ago, suggest a massive amount of building work to form the new
underground structures (and back of house facilities) either side of
the platforms has been undertaken. AIUI the decision to defer opening
was very last minute, so does anyone know the root cause?

A train I was on went through three weeks ago, and it looked finished at
platform level. Lots blokes in hi-vis wandering around inspecting it.

When did they remove the temporary "tunnel" erected to protect the
through trains?
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...

A train I was on went through three weeks ago, and it looked finished at
platform level. Lots blokes in hi-vis wandering around inspecting it.

When did they remove the temporary "tunnel" erected to protect the through
trains?

The protection shield was removed about 9 months ago, IIRC.

I see the BBC have attempted to describe the reopened tube station he

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17090565

They have used an artists impression of the south bank rail station
entrance, and then wrongly described the tube station as having a new south
bank entrance.

(As of 1230 today, so I'll send them a critique...)

Paul S

In message , at 12:38:15 on
Mon, 20 Feb 2012, Paul Scott remarked:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17090565

They have used an artists impression of the south bank rail station
entrance, and then wrongly described the tube station as having a new
south bank entrance.

Worse than that, don't you lose one Oyster "credit" if you use the
Blackfriars Thameslink Station as a footbridge to the tube, or am I
confused again?
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 12:38:15 on Mon,
20 Feb 2012, Paul Scott remarked:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17090565

They have used an artists impression of the south bank rail station
entrance, and then wrongly described the tube station as having a new
south bank entrance.

Worse than that, don't you lose one Oyster "credit" if you use the
Blackfriars Thameslink Station as a footbridge to the tube, or am I
confused again?

I think last time we collectively worked out that if you used the
Thameslink station as a simple footbridge across the river you'd pay some
sort of fare unless you were unfeasibly quick to get in and then out again,
(less than 2 mins IIRC), but if you continued onto the tube you'd be charged
normally as the north side NR and LU gatelines would function just like any
other OSI between modes.

Paul S

On Feb 20, 1:30*pm, Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 12:38:15 on
Mon, 20 Feb 2012, Paul Scott remarked:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17090565

They have used an artists impression of the south bank rail station
entrance, and then wrongly described the tube station as having a new
south bank entrance.

Worse than that, don't you lose one Oyster "credit" if you use the
Blackfriars Thameslink Station as a footbridge to the tube, or am I
confused again?

You are, I'm afraid - when using Oyster PAYG, if you finish a Tube
journey at Blackfriars LU station, then if you wish you get 'free
passage' though Blackfriars NR/ Thameslink station i.e. across the
bridge over the river to the South Bank exit.

Likewise if you enter Blackfriars NR/ Thameslink station at the South
Bank entrance, walk across on the bridge and exit, then enter the LU
station you won't get charged anything extra for traversing through
the NR/ Thameslink station.

I tested the first scenario this evening just gone (i.e. Monday) using
a 'virgin' Oyster card - it was loaded with GBP2, enough for a zone 1
Tube journey - I started at a zone 1 Tube station, got off at
Blackfriars LU and exited via the LU gates, then entered the NR gates,
walked across the bridge and exited again at the new South Bank exit -
the walk through the NR/ Thameslink station cost nowt extra.

(For those who don't know, on the north side of the river, there are
seperate gatelines for the LU and NR stations.)

I have to say that, coming out of the LU gates I'm not sure there'll
be that much of an draw to walking along the platform through the NR/
Thameslink station rather than just walking across Blackfriars Bridge
- that is when the pavement on the eastern side reopens (it's closed
to facilitate station rebuilding works) - unless of course it's
precipitating felines and canines. When coming from the South Bank
then I guess the new entrance might draw more people in, particularly
if it features an LU roundel and signage - I didn't look for one today
(but if it's planned then I doubt it's there yet).

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...

A train I was on went through three weeks ago, and it looked finished at
platform level. Lots blokes in hi-vis wandering around inspecting it.

When did they remove the temporary "tunnel" erected to protect the through
trains?

Interesting timelapse video has appeared on NR's site. The temporary tunnel
makes an appearance at one stage, but there's a heck of a lot of concrete
gone in since then...

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6264.aspx

Paul

On Feb 20, 10:48*am, "Paul Scott"
wrote:

"David Cantrell" wrote:

Blackfriars underground station has re-opened a week early.

Or depending on point of view only 10 weeks late, which is a slight advance
on the planned 11 weeks late announced in December!

All the same, photos I've seen online, and plans I downloaded a while ago,
suggest a massive amount of building work to form the new underground
structures (and back of house facilities) either side of the platforms has
been undertaken. * AIUI the decision to defer opening was very last minute,
so does anyone know the root cause?

Dunno, but you're right about the massive building works - the new
'ceiling' above the platforms looks like a considerable structure. All
rather different from the Blackfriars LU of old.

On Feb 21, 1:34*am, Mizter T wrote:
On Feb 20, 10:48*am, "Paul Scott"
wrote:

"David Cantrell" wrote:

Blackfriars underground station has re-opened a week early.

Or depending on point of view only 10 weeks late, which is a slight advance
on the planned 11 weeks late announced in December!

All the same, photos I've seen online, and plans I downloaded a while ago,
suggest a massive amount of building work to form the new underground
structures (and back of house facilities) either side of the platforms has
been undertaken. * AIUI the decision to defer opening was very last minute,
so does anyone know the root cause?

Dunno, but you're right about the massive building works - the new
'ceiling' above the platforms looks like a considerable structure. All
rather different from the Blackfriars LU of old.

You wouldn't know that Blackfriars has re-opened if you passed through
Kings Cross station today. Coming up from the Victoria Line, there is
a prominent poster saying "Blackfriars Tube Station will reopen on
26th February 2012". This therefore gives the impression that the
station is still closed. Still, you can't expect London Underground
to always provide accurate information to its customers.