In article , (Roland
Perry) wrote:

In message , at 10:58:18
on Wed, 19 Dec 2007, David Biddulph remarked:
Is this the only station with more than one company operating a
ticket office (excluding the Eurostar ticket office for a moment)?

Just next door at Kings Cross, shirley?

I thought there was only one office there, in the Travel Centre?
Where is there another office?

Having been prompted, there's a pair of FCC ticket windows just
"outdoors" [1] from the KX Suburban platforms.

[1] It was really outdoors until a couple of years ago, but I think
they've built a bit of a shelter round it now.

Indeed it's very much indoors now, complete with queuing space.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In article , groups [at]
biddulph.org.uk (David Biddulph) wrote:

The old WAGN, now FCC one, by the suburban platforms. That is
very much an alternative location to avoid the need for detours to
the main travel centre. ...

Ah, yes. It looks as if they need to update
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/867.aspx#facilities, as it talks
only of machines there, but the map at
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documen...KingsCross.pdf does
seem to show the other office.

The machines are on the platform ends, between 9 and 10.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In article , says...
In message , at 23:34:21
on Tue, 18 Dec 2007, Duncan remarked:

I can't understand why a lot of the retail units have still not been
fitted out. If WHS and M&S can manage by the opening, why are others
struggling weeks later?

The platform level WHS opened "early" because that part of the concourse
was accessible from Platforms 1-4. M&S is actually SSP, of course, so
they may have had a bit of an inside track seeing as how they will be
operating so many units inside the station.

I agree. As both WHS and SSP who are experienced travel retailers were
able to open immediately, which suggests the delay in open the other
units especially on The Arcade is partly due to the retailers being slow
to fit out.

It will be interesting to compare to Terminal 5 when this opens, as BAA
has made all retailers fit out their units months in advance, and then
mothball them until the final opening. This may introduce other risks
though such as leaving PCs and EPOS equipment unused for so long.

Personally I think there are too many fancy shops. Most of the
passengers there, e.g. domestic travellers, I'm sure will just want
snacks and something to read on the journey. Those retailers that have
been allowed in, such as WHSmith, have units far too small for the
number of passengers trying to use them.

The shops I've been in are very small (M&S last Friday was so full you
literally couldn't get through the door). The WHS is in a part of the
station where the structure only allows a small footprint per shop.
Maybe the master plan is a bit broken?

Maybe. Currently I can't see The Circle being very busy when it first
opens based on the usage of the M&S store and the general footfall in
that area now. It will be interesting to see how this all changes once
the northern Underground ticket hall and the Kent services start.

Duncan

On 18 Dec, 23:34, Duncan wrote:

These also stopped working when I was yesterday evening. The screens on
the Low Level platforms were just displaying 'listen to announcements
for details'.

They worked today, and now they say "Plaform zone" rather than "Zone"
which is an improvement. The voice announcer also says how many cars
the train has too. AND, you can now get realtime info from the Journey
Check service with STP as the station code.

Wow, things are improving (makes you wonder though how you could open
a brand new station and forget to get something like this to work
properly).

The whole station still seemed unfinished to me. I can't understand why
a lot of the retail units have still not been fitted out. If WHS and M&S
can manage by the opening, why are others struggling weeks later? At the
moment it hasn't got the feel of a shopping centre, which they were
aiming for, nor a station.

Having watched the crappy TV documentary that seemed to be more about
a few people who worked on the construction, then showed it in a
random order, the shops weren't built in time as the rest of the
station had to be opened for the Queen and to run Eurostar trains. The
"built on time and on budget" statement is ******** because it's far
from finished today and probably for a few more months.

The retailers are presumably rather upset about missing the Christmas
run-up too!

Personally I think there are too many fancy shops. Most of the
passengers there, e.g. domestic travellers, I'm sure will just want
snacks and something to read on the journey. Those retailers that have
been allowed in, such as WHSmith, have units far too small for the
number of passengers trying to use them.

I can see that when the station operator realises that people want
their Starbucks coffee and a cheap McDonald's, they'll stop this
"premium brand" idea and let them in. In fact, I put money on it
happening within a year or two. It might not be the best coffee or
food, but we went to a place before our Eurostar trip (a place that
does loads of different types of bread, forget the name) and the
service was slow and it was expensive. To be fair, it was very tasty
indeed and we had time to kill, but anyone wanting to grab some food
to go will not be satisfied at St Pancras!

Jonathan

In message
, at
16:18:40 on Wed, 19 Dec 2007, jonmorris
remarked:
Wow, things are improving (makes you wonder though how you could open
a brand new station and forget to get something like this to work
properly).

But they did get the *really* important stuff done, like deciding that
the lady in the kissing statute shouldn't have ankle straps on her
shoes.

we went to a place before our Eurostar trip (a place that
does loads of different types of bread, forget the name) and the
service was slow and it was expensive. To be fair, it was very tasty
indeed and we had time to kill, but anyone wanting to grab some food
to go will not be satisfied at St Pancras!

I got reports yesterday evening, from someone waiting about an hour for
a train at St Pancras, that the whole place was freezing cold. When the
larger bistros are open perhaps there will be somewhere warm to hang
out, but at the moment (and "hello!" the station was always planned to
be opening in November) it has a very "outdoors" feel to it. And this
for somewhere they want to make into a meeting place...
--
Roland Perry

On Dec 20, 7:20 am, Roland Perry wrote:

I got reports yesterday evening, from someone waiting about an hour for
a train at St Pancras, that the whole place was freezing cold. When the
larger bistros are open perhaps there will be somewhere warm to hang
out, but at the moment (and "hello!" the station was always planned to
be opening in November) it has a very "outdoors" feel to it. And this
for somewhere they want to make into a meeting place...
--
Ah SPI - the Latin quarter of Watford Gap Services.
Meanwhile just outside the locals are also unhappy


http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/co...A19%3A39%3A173
quote
Eurostar bubble bursts for sad traders

DEFLATED traders hoping to cash in on the arrival of Eurostar in
Camden have branded the expected King's Cross business boom as "hype".

Four weeks after St Pancras International opened in a blaze of
publicity, independent businesses widely predicted to benefit from
having the world's first "destination station" on their doorstep say
they have seen little or no rise in profits.

More than 50 million people a year are predicted to flood into the
borough through the new £800million Eurostar terminal, but so far
local traders are feeling a distinct lack of Christmas cheer.

Samir Bayoudhi, 43, of Mirmar Takeaway, in Euston Road, said:
"Everybody was expecting it to get busier but the way they designed it
was to keep everybody in the station. If I've got my luggage the last
thing I'm going to do is come out of the station and cross the road.

"I've been in the area since 1985 and it has got much better - but
people who have businesses here thought they were going to make a
fortune."

Rajesh Thakor, manager of the neighbouring Post Office and newsagents,
said: "It's picked up a bit but its all hype. They said the whole area
was going to be buzzing but if you looked at it carefully you knew it
wouldn't be - they've designed the station so people won't come out.
It's nothing different."

And Anthony Ooi, of Chop Chop noodle bar, also on Euston Road, said:
"It's maybe 10 per cent better, it's OK, but it is Christmas and we
usually get busier anyway. I'm not sure it has affected the business
much - I'll be able to tell better after Christmas. February will be
the real test."

Last week domestic services to scores of destinations including Luton
and Gatwick airports switched to St Pancras from King's Cross
Thameslink, in Pentonville Road. Passing trade from hundreds of
commuters who previously had to walk between the two stations has
disappeared, with the old station now only operating as a subway to
the Tube.

Mr Bayoudhi said: "Now they've opened the Thameslink there as well, no
one's walking past. Look outside - the street is empty, everyone is
underground."

My Bayoudhi believes the only way that independent businesses in
King's Cross will see an upturn in trade is if hotels in the area fill
up with tourists.

Receptionist Filomena Dipopolo, of The Belgrove Hotel, in Belgrove
Square, said: "We're having a lot more French people. It has got
busier. It's normally quiet at this time of year so we're doing pretty
well."

But a worker at The Northumberland Hotel, in Euston Road, revealed
that it was set to close down all together next March. The hotel
management were unavailable to comment.
unquote

In message
, at
02:33:36 on Thu, 20 Dec 2007, Mwmbwls
remarked:
Four weeks after St Pancras International opened in a blaze of
publicity, independent businesses widely predicted to benefit from
having the world's first "destination station" on their doorstep say
they have seen little or no rise in profits.

Given the post-apocalypse landscape outside KX-StPancras I'd be very
surprised if many travellers dared venture out to patronise the local
shops. Plenty of people were afraid to walk from KX-TL to KX after dark,
of example. If the retailers along there were expecting an increase in
trade, then they really don't understand demographics.
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry wrote:

Is this the only station with more than one company operating a ticket
office (excluding the Eurostar ticket office for a moment)?


Stevenage has an FCC and a GNER, sorry, NXEC office. The latter is
frequently unused when there are queues at the FCC window as it
isn't so obvious. (Its opening hours are also much shorter.)

But the staff are good at directing passengers
to the other office for tickets when the queues get long, despite
the reasonable comments others have made about lost commission.

On Wed, 19 Dec 2007, jonmorris wrote:

On 18 Dec, 23:34, Duncan wrote:

Personally I think there are too many fancy shops. Most of the
passengers there, e.g. domestic travellers, I'm sure will just want
snacks and something to read on the journey. Those retailers that have
been allowed in, such as WHSmith, have units far too small for the
number of passengers trying to use them.

I can see that when the station operator realises that people want their
Starbucks coffee and a cheap McDonald's, they'll stop this "premium
brand" idea and let them in. In fact, I put money on it happening within
a year or two. It might not be the best coffee or food, but we went to a
place before our Eurostar trip (a place that does loads of different
types of bread, forget the name)

Patisserie Paul.

and the service was slow and it was expensive.

Yes, it's definitely Patisserie Paul.

There's one at Euston; i wouldn't say it was particularly slow, but it's
certainly not cheap.

To be fair, it was very tasty indeed

Their sandwiches are a bit so-so, particularly at the price they charge,
but their cakes and pastries are very good. The blackcurrant tart, flan
nature and the macaroons are particularly good.

tom

--
File under 'directionless space novelty ultimately ruined by poor
self-editing'

jonmorris wrote:
On 18 Dec, 21:52, Roland Perry wrote:

Now that the station is fully open it's even more apparent what a stupid
idea it was not to have some escalators down from the P1-4 concourse to
(eg) the same place as the FCC escalators go down.

I think that it's also rather silly that there are signs for "UK rail
tickets" - and two totally separate ticket offices next door to each
other. One for East Midlands and one for FCC. I guess SET will get one
of their own too when they start!

How or why does a tourist want to worry about where to queue up. Sure,
most will sell tickets for each other but that makes it even more
nonsensical!

While it is not a justification for it, some tourists, particularly from
Eastern Europe, might be used to this sort of thing.

Try working out whether the semi-mythical Hungarian tourist rover ticket
is an inter-city, local or international product, all of which have to
be bought at totally separate ticket offices at
Budapest-whichever-it-was station.

Sofia Central is similar - how does a tourist know which office to use?
The difference is that BDZ won't sell tickets at the "wrong" window.
--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK