London Bridge reconstruction works

[ijmad]

It's a massive pain when you have to go out onto the streets to access the Underground, especially in bad weather. That passageway is integral to the operations of the station and shouldn't still be leaking/closed a month after the Royal opening!

Yes fair point, that would be an example of something that is definitely not functioning!

 

[387star]

Hoardings on 15 gone now

 

[ijmad]

Hoardings on 15 gone now

My god, I never thought I'd see it happen.

 

[swt_passenger]

My god, I never thought I'd see it happen.

Does that mean all the temporary staff portable cabins and stuff are gone?

 

[david737]

Does that mean all the temporary staff portable cabins and stuff are gone?

Yes, there is a more permanent looking structure (like the ones on the other plats) near the stairs/escalators.

 

[ijmad]

Yes, there is a more permanent looking structure (like the ones on the other plats) near the stairs/escalators.

On the architectural plans these are referred to as a 'Bothy', which means a small shelter. I don't know if this is a railway term or something the architect just came up with.

 

[swt_passenger]

On the architectural plans these are referred to as a 'Bothy', which means a small shelter. I don't know if this is a railway term or something the architect just came up with.

I think ‘bothy’ for a shelter has Scottish or borders roots, predating railway influence.

 

[ijmad]

I think ‘bothy’ for a shelter has Scottish or borders roots, predating railway influence.

What I meant was that I wasn't sure if it was used elsewhere or universally on the railways to refer to such structures

 

[FOH]

Hoardings on 15 gone now

Hoardings are still there, just reduced in size

The departure boards this evening are pathetic. Only room for 2 Southern services with 6 Thameslink on the boards. Add more boards or dump Thameslink off of them. Useless

Also, I don’t get why my cancelled train gets manually announced, then is immediately followed by a computer male voice saying the same thing, followed ahain by a female computer voice. Just helps to reinforce my hatred of this company

 

[swt_passenger]

Also, I don’t get why my cancelled train gets manually announced, then is immediately followed by a computer male voice saying the same thing, followed ahain by a female computer voice. Just helps to reinforce my hatred of this company

I’ve wondered (cos the SWR announcers often do the same), if it’s because the staff making the announcements can’t normally hear the automatic announcements. So they see the cancellation on a screen and start letting people know just a bit too early. On SWR I often hear about half of automatic platform alteration or cancellation announcements before the staff talk over them...

 

[Stew998]

Agreed. After having used the new station for a few months, I do have mixed feelings. It's obviously a vast improvement on the old station, in terms of aesthetics, passenger flow, and most importantly, enabling frequent Thameslink trains. And I appreciate that the design will inevitably have been a compromise, limited by cost and also by all sorts of restrictions on what could safely be done - which most of us would be unaware of. But even so, I'm starting to get impression that the design perhaps emphasized aesthetics too much over passenger convenience.

One thing that strikes me is the vast height difference between the concourse and the platforms. Makes the concourse look amazing, but also means passengers changing trains have to go up and down unnecessarily large distances. This adds to the time to change trains, and means lots of people who would normally use stairs head for the escalators or the lifts instead, somewhat restricting flows off the platform. I'm also going to join the 'one lift per SouthEastern platform isn't adequate' brigade: A few days ago, I used the lift because I had my bicycle with me. Off=peak, mid-morning: Took the lift two round trips to accommodate everyone off my Cannon Street train - by which time another train was already disgorging more people into the queue for the lift.

I do wonder whether it would have been better to provide a balcony (Waterloo-style) or an overbridge so that people changing trains wouldn't need to descend all the way to the concourse and back - this would have had the side-effect of reducing demand for both the escalators and the lifts.

Then there's the location of the concourse even further from the Underground (where many people would be heading) than the previous concourse - although granted, the existence of the Shard would restrict what could be done there. Given the distance, did noone think about providing travelators, similar to the one between the Jubilee and Bakerloo/Northern platforms at Waterloo?

Lack of toilets inside the barriers is also an issue, although it's nice that there are ones outside the barriers.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not sorry that the station was rebuilt, but I do wonder how much of a priority passenger convenience - in particular, minimising the time for passengers to get between platforms/underground/exit/etc., got in the design.

Agree with most of this being a daily commuter from Sussex. Getting off the through platforms from a busy train is very slow as everyone tries to funnel down two escalator/stairways. Presumably though, if they could run all the planned trains they'd be less crowded.... The stairs/escalators take you to the lower concourse which is not very convenient if you wish to cross London Bridge (imagine that!)

Quite why the end ramps could not have been retained for passengers wishing to exit at higher street level is a mystery and a glaring omission. If they would not meet current design criteria then some other solution must have been possible? I can't see that the crush on the comparatively narrow strip of platform either side of the stair/escalator wells is very safe, I also wonder how long it will be before some poor soul falls all the way down the stairs, luckily Guy's Hospital is nearby...

Agree about an overbridge as well although that would spoil the "look" - overall the station is something of a triumph of style over substance or form over function. Does it look impressive? Yes it does. Does it improve my experience as a passenger? Frankly little if at all. When possible I avoid the Shedlink through trains on their own (lack of) merit and the platforms are equally unappealing. I'd prefer to take a comfortable Southern Train into or out of the terminus. If I want the underground then again there has been little improvement practically speaking; it's still a trek. In fact it seems further than before the station was rebuilt!

Positives? Well, there are more retail units but that's not really the purpose of a railway station is it? Or am I missing something?!

 

[FOH]

It seems unbelievable that 6 years after starting the work I'm still walking to and from work through a building site

 

[Roast Veg]

I’ve wondered (cos the SWR announcers often do the same), if it’s because the staff making the announcements can’t normally hear the automatic announcements. So they see the cancellation on a screen and start letting people know just a bit too early. On SWR I often hear about half of automatic platform alteration or cancellation announcements before the staff talk over them...

Passengers (and commuters in particular) have a tendency to tune out automatic announcements - whether by design or not the current system gets them paying closer attention.

 

[theageofthetra]

Agree with most of this being a daily commuter from Sussex. Getting off the through platforms from a busy train is very slow as everyone tries to funnel down two escalator/stairways. Presumably though, if they could run all the planned trains they'd be less crowded.... The stairs/escalators take you to the lower concourse which is not very convenient if you wish to cross London Bridge (imagine that!)

Quite why the end ramps could not have been retained for passengers wishing to exit at higher street level is a mystery and a glaring omission. If they would not meet current design criteria then some other solution must have been possible? I can't see that the crush on the comparatively narrow strip of platform either side of the stair/escalator wells is very safe, I also wonder how long it will be before some poor soul falls all the way down the stairs, luckily Guy's Hospital is nearby...

Agree about an overbridge as well although that would spoil the "look" - overall the station is something of a triumph of style over substance or form over function. Does it look impressive? Yes it does. Does it improve my experience as a passenger? Frankly little if at all. When possible I avoid the Shedlink through trains on their own (lack of) merit and the platforms are equally unappealing. I'd prefer to take a comfortable Southern Train into or out of the terminus. If I want the underground then again there has been little improvement practically speaking; it's still a trek. In fact it seems further than before the station was rebuilt!

Positives? Well, there are more retail units but that's not really the purpose of a railway station is it? Or am I missing something?!

And even more ridiculously there is still nowhere warm to wait in winter.

 

[Stew998]

It should be tolerable downstairs but don't get me started on rain and the upside down canopies!

 

[387star]

Really is still a building site

Multiple areas are fenced off with supplies or are being worked on

Platform ten has an area of breeze blocks that's presumably unfinished

Wonder when the station will be finished

Meanwhile More London nearby has had an artistic water feature paved over as people are glued to their phones and trip over it

 

[387star]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp....e-rill-water-feature-london-bridge-bricked-up

 

[ijmad]

Wonder when the station will be finished

Maybe by the time Thameslink has a stable timetable.

Heh...

 

[FOH]

I saw this morning on the north wall of the upper concourse JC Deceaux have their new massive advertising screen in use. However none of the passenger information screens have yet been commissioned.

 

[Stew998]

Breaking News...

New London Architecture Awards 2018

"London Bridge Station, by Grimshaw for Network Rail, has been named Overall Winner 2018, while also being the winner for the Transport & Infrastructure category and the Sustainability Prize.

The long-running project – one of the most complex and ambitious rail station redevelopments in the UK – was praised for its impressive scale and complexity and for having sustainability as a key driving factor in both its design and construction."

http://newlondonarchitecture.org/wh...-london-awards/new-london-awards-2018-winners

As a project and a building I suppose it is impressive but as a passenger is it an improvement in functionality?

Questionable in my opinion as a daily user, and that's being charitable.

 

[Daz28]

I saw this morning on the north wall of the upper concourse JC Deceaux have their new massive advertising screen in use. However none of the passenger information screens have yet been commissioned.

Those passenger information screens were working today, albeit one was faulty and under repair.

 

[387star]

Those passenger information screens were working today, albeit one was faulty and under repair.

The areas of hazard tape on the floor nearby... was that previously a gateline?
What will the building behind the new screens be used for?
I notice a Pret downstairs but no indoor seating which is a shame unless there is a larger one somewhere

 

[ijmad]

The areas of hazard tape on the floor nearby... was that previously a gateline?

Yep.

What will the building behind the new screens be used for?

More shops and a large cafe/restaurant over two floors.

I notice a Pret downstairs but no indoor seating which is a shame unless there is a larger one somewhere

There is a much larger Pret under a minute's walk away on the opposite side of Tooley Street.

 

[Barn]

There is a much larger Pret under a minute's walk away on the opposite side of Tooley Street.

And another large one near the entrance to the tube station on Borough High Street, plus another 3 within a 5 minute walk!

I work at London Bridge and could easily visit a different Pret each day of the week for my lunch.

 

[ijmad]

And another large one near the entrance to the tube station on Borough High Street, plus another 3 within a 5 minute walk!

I work at London Bridge and could easily visit a different Pret each day of the week for my lunch.

Don't forget the one in More London and the one at Clink Street... it's Pret-ty ridiculous!

 

[387star]

And another large one near the entrance to the tube station on Borough High Street, plus another 3 within a 5 minute walk!

I work at London Bridge and could easily visit a different Pret each day of the week for my lunch.

I like Pret but I'm actually getting tired of their selection

Any other good chain places which serve decent baguettes and sandwiches i.e. good quality chewy bread.. ingredients made fresh ?

 

[BingBong50]

Yep.



More shops and a large cafe/restaurant over two floors.

Any chance there might be a Weatherspoons somewhere?

 

[Barn]

Don't forget the one in More London and the one at Clink Street... it's Pret-ty ridiculous!

Believe it or not, there's another one on the A3 equidistant between the two shown on the map.

 

[ijmad]

Any chance there might be a Weatherspoons somewhere?

It's rumoured one may open in the exterior-facing arches on Tooley Street. Plus a McDonalds, and an Honest Burger, I believe.

 

[E759]

Any chance there might be a Weatherspoons somewhere?

“The horror!”