"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
h.li
On Thu, 8 May 2008, Recliner wrote:

"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
h.li
On Thu, 8 May 2008, Paul Scott wrote:

"Recliner" wrote in message
...

Isn't there a plan for another new underground station associated
with the development?

Yes, on the Central line. I was under the impression that this was
going to be a new set of platforms for Park Royal station (on the
Piccadilly), but it seems it's far enough away that it'll be a
separate station. That the distance between them is so large,
attentive utl readers will recall, is because the Central line here
goes up a slope, and platforms on slopes are no longer allowed.

Actually, I think the "problem" is that the Picc is on a slight
(imperceptible) slope. To move the platforms north wouldn't change
the slope, but it wouldn't be allowed to build new platforms on a
slope, even though it would be no worse than the current platforms.
So no-one would be hurt by such a reconstruction, and anyone
changing between the Picc and Central lines would be helped, but it
still wouldn't be allowed.

I stand corrected, thanks. This really is a stupid situation.

Are the new Central platforms in the right place for a good
interchange should the Piccadilly platforms be moved in the broad,
sunlit uplands of some enlightened future?

I'm not sure if this link will work, but try clicking on it and then
click on the Bird's eye tab (and close the pane on the left).
http://maps.live.com/?v=2&sp=Point.skn5q2gz8nxp_Park%20Royal____&encTyp e=1

With a bit of luck you'll see a southbound Picc train that's just
entering what would be the new platform (perhaps shown with a push pin),
having just crossed over the Central line. The station building is on
the south side of the A40, with the platforms further to the south, with
a northbound Picc train standing in the station. The idea is that the
new platforms would be under the road bridge, to the north of the
station building and overbridge. Passengers for the Picc will have no
further to walk from the station entrance, though those for the Central
line will inevitably have a longer walk.

I assume the new Central line platforms would be a little to the east of
the bridge under the Picc, under the new road and foot bridges. I assume
that there would be a connection to the new Picc platforms, as well as a
new station entrance on Coronation Road to the north (near to the new
Diageo HQ building). Incidentally, the building seen under construction
in the picture is now finished.

If you scroll to the top right, you can see the site of the former
Guinness brewery. You can also see the trackbed of the former rail
connection

Recliner wrote:
"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
h.li

Are the new Central platforms in the right place for a good
interchange should the Piccadilly platforms be moved in the broad,
sunlit uplands of some enlightened future?

No.

I'm not sure if this link will work, but try clicking on it and then
click on the Bird's eye tab (and close the pane on the left).
http://maps.live.com/?v=2&sp=Point.skn5q2gz8nxp_Park%20Royal____&encTyp e=1

I assume the new Central line platforms would be a little to the east
of the bridge under the Picc, under the new road and foot bridges.

No, they will be east of the footbridge, unless the plan has changed in the
last few years.
There's a map here... http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/33
The situation in 2001 is described here...
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...PkRoyalCentral

I'll believe these platforms when they start building them. The planning
consent for the office park included the condition that the station would
open before the third (of eight) office blocks opened. What's the status of
the office blocks?

"John Rowland" wrote in
message
Recliner wrote:
"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
h.li

Are the new Central platforms in the right place for a good
interchange should the Piccadilly platforms be moved in the broad,
sunlit uplands of some enlightened future?

No.

That's a pity -- it doesn't look like it would be particularly difficult
to create a decent interchange station, which would make travel around
west London more convenient.


I'm not sure if this link will work, but try clicking on it and then
click on the Bird's eye tab (and close the pane on the left).
http://maps.live.com/?v=2&sp=Point.skn5q2gz8nxp_Park%20Royal____&encTyp e=1

I assume the new Central line platforms would be a little to the east
of the bridge under the Picc, under the new road and foot bridges.

No, they will be east of the footbridge, unless the plan has changed
in the last few years.
There's a map here... http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/33
The situation in 2001 is described here...
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...PkRoyalCentral

I'll believe these platforms when they start building them. The
planning consent for the office park included the condition that the
station would open before the third (of eight) office blocks opened.
What's the status of the office blocks?

The second building looks complete, but doesn't yet seem to be occupied,
nor to have any company sign on it. I suppose they may weel still be
working on the interior fittings.

I've not yet noticed any sign of the third building, so I suppose they
could still meet the deadline of getting the station done before opening
the third building. But I've not noticed any work starting on it yet
either, nor on the Picc line platforms, assuming they do intend there to
be a connection, even if it's not a convenient one.

Recliner wrote:
"John Rowland" wrote in
message

I'll believe these platforms when they start building them. The
planning consent for the office park included the condition that the
station would open before the third (of eight) office blocks opened.
What's the status of the office blocks?

The second building looks complete, but doesn't yet seem to be
occupied, nor to have any company sign on it. I suppose they may
weel still be working on the interior fittings.

I've not yet noticed any sign of the third building, so I suppose they
could still meet the deadline of getting the station done before
opening the third building. But I've not noticed any work starting on
it yet either, nor on the Picc line platforms, assuming they do
intend there to be a connection, even if it's not a convenient one.

Someone who ought to know what they are talking about suggested that the
developers never intended more than two blocks... that the planning request
for eight blocks with station before the third was a con.

On Sun, 11 May 2008, Recliner wrote:

"John Rowland" wrote in
message
Recliner wrote:
"Tom Anderson" wrote in message
h.li

Are the new Central platforms in the right place for a good
interchange should the Piccadilly platforms be moved in the broad,
sunlit uplands of some enlightened future?

No.

That's a pity -- it doesn't look like it would be particularly difficult
to create a decent interchange station, which would make travel around
west London more convenient.

An even better idea - he said, putting on his network editing loony hat -
would be to build a junction there, so that trains from Uxbridge could
join the Central line and head straight on into central London, without
taking their passengers on a round-the houses trip of the west as the Picc
does at the moment. You'd have to delete the Ealing Broadway branch of the
Central for this to be plausible, which means it would only be doable
after Crossrail, which is a pretty effective replacement for that little
branch. You could then run more Picc trains to Heathrow, or transfer one
of the District branches to it to reduce congestion on that line, as has
been mooted (with the Central as the recipient) in the past. North Ealing
station would no longer be served, but the only other station on the
removed segment, Ealing Common, would still have District trains. You
could even run Park Royal - Acton Town as a shuttle.

[removes hat]

tom

--
I DO IT WRONG!!!

"John Rowland" wrote in
message
Recliner wrote:
"John Rowland" wrote in
message

I'll believe these platforms when they start building them. The
planning consent for the office park included the condition that the
station would open before the third (of eight) office blocks opened.
What's the status of the office blocks?

The second building looks complete, but doesn't yet seem to be
occupied, nor to have any company sign on it. I suppose they may
weel still be working on the interior fittings.

I've not yet noticed any sign of the third building, so I suppose
they could still meet the deadline of getting the station done before
opening the third building. But I've not noticed any work starting on
it yet either, nor on the Picc line platforms, assuming they do
intend there to be a connection, even if it's not a convenient one.

Someone who ought to know what they are talking about suggested that
the developers never intended more than two blocks... that the
planning request for eight blocks with station before the third was a
con.

I doubt that -- they've flattened the old brewery site, and I can't
imagine that they don't intend to build on it. The completed buildings
only occupy a small part of a very large plot. By the time they've
finished, the Park Royal site could rival Stockley Park (also badly
served by public transport).