London Banter - Restricted access to Clapham Common Station

On 2 Apr, 13:28, Adrian Burkinshaw wrote:

I've received the following email from TfL:

"From Monday 14 April until the end of June 2008, while major
escalator refurbishment work is in progress, Clapham Common station
will be exit only during peak times:

Monday to Friday 0700-1100 and 1600-1930

Please use nearby Clapham South station for the Northern line and
Stockwell station for the Victoria line during these times."

Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere else (other than under the broad
and not-very-detailed description of "escalator works"), so I thought
I'd post here.

Always good to spread the word.

I note that TfL's advice to use Clapham South station reflects what
they'd prefer passengers to do, rather than reflecting the fact that
Clapham North is the closest alternative Northern line station to
Clapham Common.

Here's a street map of the area showing all three Clapham tube
stations:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...0&y=174750&z=2

The reason that TfL has given this seemingly counterfactual advice is
almost certainly because of concerns about Clapham North station
becoming overcrowded - the station is only one of two subterranean
stations left in London with an island platform, the other being
Clapham Common.

Here's a photo of Clapham North for those unfamiliar with it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ollycourtney/232075853/

I'm sure regular passengers and those familiar with the area will head
to Clapham North nonetheless - and I'm also sure that LU staff will be
very carefully monitoring how crowded the station gets and won't
hesitate to close the doors to any more people entering the station
should they have any concerns about overcrowding.

In such situations TfL would appear to be in the position of being
damned if they do and damned if they don't - damned if they do give
seemingly misleading advice about travel alternatives, and damned if
they don't try and predict what problems might occur and thus plan
ahead accordingly.