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Interchange Matters

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LonTravelWatch

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Hello all. This is the first posting from London TravelWatch: London's statutory transport watchdog.

If you are interested, we would like to direct you to our page where we have rated a number interchange stations across London: https://interchangematters.wordpress.com/

Please do take a look and feel free to give us some feedback on the stations, particularly if there are any things we may have missed when we made our visit.

Also, if you would like to suggest an interchange station for us to review please do so.

Many thanks,

The London TravelWatch team
 
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Taunton

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Surprised West Ham got 4 stars. It's just a poor architectural design (which is probably why it won an architectural award at completion). To get from the District to the Jubilee you have to go down, to a lower level passage, then go up, to an upper level passage, and then finally down again, to the Jubilee platform. A little more ingenuity in design would have done a single staircase from the District island platform to the Jubilee island platform, leaving the convoluted route march for accessibility.

Do have a look at Canning Town, which has received many criticisms over recent years. When it was just DLR over Jubilee it was a real 5 star one. When the second DLR platform was put in, with alternate DLR trains now leaving from each, there was no real indication of where the next one is. There is only one obscure monitor on the Jubilee platform for DLR departures, poorly formatted and only referring to platform numbers which are illogical. It's very annoying to go to the upper DLR one only to find that a few minutes later a train to your destination is now leaving from the lower one - which is three escalators and a lot of walking away.

My home station is Canary Wharf. Reviewing the interchanges between the Jubilee, the DLR and Crossrail will be an amusement.
 
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LonTravelWatch

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Surprised West Ham got 4 stars. It's just a poor architectural design (which is probably why it won an architectural award at completion). To get from the District to the Jubilee you have to go down, to a lower level passage, then go up, to an upper level passage, and then finally down again, to the Jubilee platform. A little more ingenuity in design would have done a single staircase from the District island platform to the Jubilee island platform, leaving the convoluted route march for accessibility.

Do have a look at Canning Town, which has received many criticisms over recent years. When it was just DLR over Jubilee it was a real 5 star one. When the second DLR platform was put in, with alternate DLR trains now leaving from each, there was no real indication of where the next one is. There is only one obscure monitor on the Jubilee platform for DLR departures, poorly formatted and only referring to platform numbers which are illogical. It's very annoying to go to the upper DLR one only to find that a few minutes later a train to your destination is now leaving from the lower one - which is three escalators and a lot of walking away.

My home station is Canary Wharf. Reviewing the interchanges between the Jubilee, the DLR and Crossrail will be an amusement.

Hi. Thanks for your feedback. We will be sure to add Canning Town to our list of planned stations to visit.
 

717001

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If you re-visit Finsbury Park, it would be good if you checked out the continued lack of clear signage around use of the new lifts.

More touch in/out points for passengers switching between different forms of ticketing would be good too eg on P1/2.
 

edwin_m

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Luton Airport is in a constant state of change so any comments I might have from my last visit in December are probably overtaken by events. You may wish to note that a peoplemover shuttle is under construction between the airport and the Parkway station, which will replace the shuttle bus. I believe this will connect to the station at bridge level, with just one flight of stairs or lift to any of the platforms, so should make interchange considerably better.
 

sheff1

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I looked forward to reading your views on Kings Cross/St Pancras. Unfortunately there weren't any - one for the future ?
 

LonTravelWatch

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If you re-visit Finsbury Park, it would be good if you checked out the continued lack of clear signage around use of the new lifts.

More touch in/out points for passengers switching between different forms of ticketing would be good too eg on P1/2.
Thanks for your feedback. We'll take this into account the next time we visit.
 

LonTravelWatch

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Luton Airport is in a constant state of change so any comments I might have from my last visit in December are probably overtaken by events. You may wish to note that a peoplemover shuttle is under construction between the airport and the Parkway station, which will replace the shuttle bus. I believe this will connect to the station at bridge level, with just one flight of stairs or lift to any of the platforms, so should make interchange considerably better.
Many thanks for your insight. The people mover sounds like and interesting development in terms of making interchanging easier. Our Policy team will be looking at this further in due course.
 

Cosmicismsx

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You should add to the Kings Cross review the news that the Kings Cross Development landlord are using facial recognition technology, and its almost impossible to walk around above ground without it scanning you.
 

LonTravelWatch

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You should add to the Kings Cross review the news that the Kings Cross Development landlord are using facial recognition technology, and its almost impossible to walk around above ground without it scanning you.
Thanks for the info.
 

philjo

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Green Park has step free interchange between lines. However to use the step-free route from Jubilee to Victoria lines involves using
2 lifts and a lot of walking which is not mentioned in the stop-free stations guide ! Lift from Jubilee line then walk along the connection from Jubilee to Piccadilly line then back along the long tunnel to the Victoria line lift.
 

Mikey C

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2 stars for West Hampstead is a bit harsh. Yes, having 3 separate stations is awkward, but the actual distances aren't that great when compared to many Underground stations like Kings Cross or Green Park.

Worth noting that a new entrance building for the Overground NLL station has just opened. Much bigger, and with lift access to the platforms
 

UP13

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When I used to work in Hendon/ Cricklewood and never had an issue walking from WeSt Hampstead Overground to the Thameslink. Far quicker and simpler than some of the national rail to underground interchanges at some London Termini.
 

Wombat

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How about Bank/Monument? I've felt that the map and signage are a little misleading ever since I attempted to change from the W&C line to the district line. I mean, yes, they're technically linked in the sense that there's an unexpectedly long tunnel, but you might as well claim that any pair of adjacent stations are linked by a pavement.
 

Mojo

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2 stars for West Hampstead is a bit harsh. Yes, having 3 separate stations is awkward, but the actual distances aren't that great when compared to many Underground stations like Kings Cross or Green Park.
I find the fester at the (traffic light controlled) pedestrian crossings infuriating, plus the fact that the pavements are exceptionally narrow.

Given the slow traffic speeds it's a shame that some of the traffic light crossings cannot be reprogrammed to show a green man immediately as soon as the plunger has been operated or even better replaced with a zebra crossing.
 

Metal_gee_man

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Whoever at TFL designed the step-free access at Victoria Underground station needs their legs breaking, and being forced into a wheelchair to endure the lifts, that make you go down to a lower level from the district line platforms before a long walk/push through the corridors to the lift and further on to the barriers and then another lift to the station concourse! Omg I got so peed off when I tried it with a large heavy suitcase I gave up and carried my case up many stairs and escalators.
 
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tsr

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This project is a good idea - there are many useful transport interchanges around London which could do with physical improvements, better advertising to the public, or both.

2 stars for West Hampstead is a bit harsh. Yes, having 3 separate stations is awkward, but the actual distances aren't that great when compared to many Underground stations like Kings Cross or Green Park.

As a local interchange, I'd agree - I've never had a problem with it. It's also easy enough to use Google Maps or similar to find out where you're going, which can't be said for most complex transport interchanges around London, where online mapping and wayfinding can be very variable or non-existent. This is not helped by the appalling new Stations Made Easy maps on National Rail Enquiries, which aren't nearly as accurate as the old ones, and don't seem to link to photos of the different areas of the stations.

However, where West Hampstead falls down is a combination of the risks presented by having people rushing around some reasonably busy roads; poor sharing of information and assistance between the stations; and a general lack of attractiveness for unfamiliar passengers.

Whoever at TFL designed the step-free access at Victoria Underground station needs their legs breaking, and being forced into a wheelchair to ensure the lifts, that make you go down to a lower level from the district line platforms before a long walk/push through the corridors to the lift and further on to the barriers and then another lift to the station concourse! Omg I got so peed off when I tried it with a large heavy suitcase I gave up and carried my case up many stairs and escalators.

Quite so. Whilst the ticket hall access is now greatly improved, the tunnel layout at Victoria has gone straight from "really efficient" to "absolutely terrible" in the space of a few months. Admittedly some of the problems are temporary, but I'm not convinced it will ever be as good as it was. It takes so long to use the official route to the Victoria Line, on foot or indeed step-free, that I now actively aim for the District & Circle lines, changing trains elsewhere.
 

4-SUB 4732

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Lewisham gets 3 stars?

Has anybody used it at peak time?

It's a candidate for having a bomb dropped on it and started again...
 

Chris M

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Stratford, Canada Water, Canary Wharf (Jubilee to Canary Wharf DLR, Jubilee to Heron Quays DLR, Canary Wharf DLR and Jubilee to Crossrail, all three stations named Canary Wharf to buses), Canning Town, Westminster, Whitechapel, Shadwell, Bank/Monument, Ealing Broadway, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Baker Street, Willesden Junction, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Notting Hill Gate, Highbury & Islington, Poplar, Mile End, Clapham Junction, Waterloo and Embankment are all important interchanges you should visit.

Ideally each interchange should have at least three visits - weekday off-peak, weekday peak and weekend daytime. Weekday, weekend and (where relevant) Night tube visits would be useful as well. Other than the insane platform numbering, Stratford is generally pretty good off peak but try getting around the station in the rush hour.
 

Mikey C

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As a local interchange, I'd agree - I've never had a problem with it. It's also easy enough to use Google Maps or similar to find out where you're going, which can't be said for most complex transport interchanges around London, where online mapping and wayfinding can be very variable or non-existent. This is not helped by the appalling new Stations Made Easy maps on National Rail Enquiries, which aren't nearly as accurate as the old ones, and don't seem to link to photos of the different areas of the stations.

However, where West Hampstead falls down is a combination of the risks presented by having people rushing around some reasonably busy roads; poor sharing of information and assistance between the stations; and a general lack of attractiveness for unfamiliar passengers.
The biggest risk I imagine would be from people changing to and from the Thameslink, as unlike the other 2 lines, the trains are less frequent and hence people are far more likely to be targeting a specific train. Jubilee to Thameslink requires crossing two roads also.
 

LonTravelWatch

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Green Park has step free interchange between lines. However to use the step-free route from Jubilee to Victoria lines involves using
2 lifts and a lot of walking which is not mentioned in the stop-free stations guide ! Lift from Jubilee line then walk along the connection from Jubilee to Piccadilly line then back along the long tunnel to the Victoria line lift.
Thanks for your comment.

2 stars for West Hampstead is a bit harsh. Yes, having 3 separate stations is awkward, but the actual distances aren't that great when compared to many Underground stations like Kings Cross or Green Park.

Worth noting that a new entrance building for the Overground NLL station has just opened. Much bigger, and with lift access to the platforms
Thanks for your feedback.

When I used to work in Hendon/ Cricklewood and never had an issue walking from WeSt Hampstead Overground to the Thameslink. Far quicker and simpler than some of the national rail to underground interchanges at some London Termini.
Thanks for your info.

How about Bank/Monument? I've felt that the map and signage are a little misleading ever since I attempted to change from the W&C line to the district line. I mean, yes, they're technically linked in the sense that there's an unexpectedly long tunnel, but you might as well claim that any pair of adjacent stations are linked by a pavement.
Thanks for your feedback. We hope to visit Bank/Monument in future.

I find the fester at the (traffic light controlled) pedestrian crossings infuriating, plus the fact that the pavements are exceptionally narrow.

Given the slow traffic speeds it's a shame that some of the traffic light crossings cannot be reprogrammed to show a green man immediately as soon as the plunger has been operated or even better replaced with a zebra crossing.
Thanks for your insight on this.

Whoever at TFL designed the step-free access at Victoria Underground station needs their legs breaking, and being forced into a wheelchair to ensure the lifts, that make you go down to a lower level from the district line platforms before a long walk/push through the corridors to the lift and further on to the barriers and then another lift to the station concourse! Omg I got so peed off when I tried it with a large heavy suitcase I gave up and carried my case up many stairs and escalators.
Thanks for your feedback.

This project is a good idea - there are many useful transport interchanges around London which could do with physical improvements, better advertising to the public, or both.



As a local interchange, I'd agree - I've never had a problem with it. It's also easy enough to use Google Maps or similar to find out where you're going, which can't be said for most complex transport interchanges around London, where online mapping and wayfinding can be very variable or non-existent. This is not helped by the appalling new Stations Made Easy maps on National Rail Enquiries, which aren't nearly as accurate as the old ones, and don't seem to link to photos of the different areas of the stations.

However, where West Hampstead falls down is a combination of the risks presented by having people rushing around some reasonably busy roads; poor sharing of information and assistance between the stations; and a general lack of attractiveness for unfamiliar passengers.



Quite so. Whilst the ticket hall access is now greatly improved, the tunnel layout at Victoria has gone straight from "really efficient" to "absolutely terrible" in the space of a few months. Admittedly some of the problems are temporary, but I'm not convinced it will ever be as good as it was. It takes so long to use the official route to the Victoria Line, on foot or indeed step-free, that I now actively aim for the District & Circle lines, changing trains elsewhere.
Thanks for your comments.

Lewisham gets 3 stars?

Has anybody used it at peak time?

It's a candidate for having a bomb dropped on it and started again...
Thanks for your comment.

Stratford, Canada Water, Canary Wharf (Jubilee to Canary Wharf DLR, Jubilee to Heron Quays DLR, Canary Wharf DLR and Jubilee to Crossrail, all three stations named Canary Wharf to buses), Canning Town, Westminster, Whitechapel, Shadwell, Bank/Monument, Ealing Broadway, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Baker Street, Willesden Junction, Liverpool Street, Paddington, Notting Hill Gate, Highbury & Islington, Poplar, Mile End, Clapham Junction, Waterloo and Embankment are all important interchanges you should visit.

Ideally each interchange should have at least three visits - weekday off-peak, weekday peak and weekend daytime. Weekday, weekend and (where relevant) Night tube visits would be useful as well. Other than the insane platform numbering, Stratford is generally pretty good off peak but try getting around the station in the rush hour.
Thanks for your suggestions.

I think it's better now the peak time one-way system has bedded in.
Thanks for your insight.

The biggest risk I imagine would be from people changing to and from the Thameslink, as unlike the other 2 lines, the trains are less frequent and hence people are far more likely to be targeting a specific train. Jubilee to Thameslink requires crossing two roads also.
Thanks for your feedback.
 
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100andthirty

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The entry for Euston could do with an update. The taxi rank is now on the surface. I don't think the car hire is on site any more, there is no departures board at the tube gate line any more, the toilets are now free and some of the clutter of shops has been removed. They have also changed the tube station entrance so it is always accessible to customers without entering the main line station.
 

LonTravelWatch

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The entry for Euston could do with an update. The taxi rank is now on the surface. I don't think the car hire is on site any more, there is no departures board at the tube gate line any more, the toilets are now free and some of the clutter of shops has been removed. They have also changed the tube station entrance so it is always accessible to customers without entering the main line station.
Thanks for the information. We'll be keeping an eye out for these changes the next time we visit.
 

LewFinnis

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22 Aug 2013
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Stratford International - very easy to miss seeing the Oyster touchpads if you coming from the HS1 to the DLR as they are by the lifts, with none by the escalators.
 
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