Euston overcrowding

[Bletchleyite]

But with an equally smaller number of passengers and circulation space. It can be utter carnage down there when there is disruption, people missing trains because of the wall of people waiting to be let through was a regular occurrence until they started the queuing system away from the barriers.

Certainly the move away from having staff stationed by a manual gate has been a strongly negative one. Hopefully a Euston mega gate line could have an Assistance lane clearly signed.

 

[Trainbike46]

I suppose the question is where do these people go?

The obvious place to store people is in the trains they'll be departing in - which is why they should be announcing platforms earlier than they do, it spreads out the crowd

They'd have to go into the external patio/paved area

the only improvement about the new boards is that there are now obvious departure boards outside

 

[Horizon22]

The obvious place to store people is in the trains they'll be departing in - which is why they should be announcing platforms earlier than they do, it spreads out the crowd

Well during disruption that is often not possible, hence a busy concourse.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Certainly the move away from having staff stationed by a manual gate has been a strongly negative one. Hopefully a Euston mega gate line could have an Assistance lane clearly signed.

The idea of a (single) Assistance Lane is laughable amid general disruption and, especially, divertees. I saw this at St Pancras many times. Hundreds of stranded ECML passengers milling around because of a problem from King’s Cross. Sheffield train ‘boarded’ and the melee surged forwards immediately locking every barrier with ‘Seek Assistance’ as passengers frantically inserted or scanned ‘invalid’ tickets.

 

[ScottGallagher]

Except first and SP are usually nearest the concourse - if you want to make it easier, you’d need to be announcing it to people in coaches A&B so they could get down to their seats, and it wouldn’t help those rushing for unreserved seats either?

Fair point there but the staggered principle is the same the people rushing with no reservations who mostly find out the platform number after most others are rushing in a less crowded setting. Until the place is bulldozed something has to give.

 

[nlogax]

Fair point there but the staggered principle is the same the people rushing with no reservations who mostly find out the platform number after most others are rushing in a less crowded setting. Until the place is bulldozed something has to give.

Bulldozed and rebuilt with a massively expanded concourse brought to track level, complete change of operation, etc etc. The ongoing redevelopment of the main line station is a extreme example of half-baked tinkering. The patient is dying but don't worry, NR is giving them a short back & sides.

Going to check out the Speculation forum for some decent crayonista-ing. Anything would be an improvement on what exists now.

 

[Benjwri]

Re: Paddington vs Euston

If Paddington kettled everyone halfway up the approach ramp towards Praed Street and had no gateline to moderate the stampede then it would feel like Euston.

At Paddington, the only place anyone can get up any speed is along the platforms and for most platforms the gateline moderates the flow onto them.

In my option my example of platform 12 does though, that is far longer and the gates were (rightly) left open to avoid a crush, so no slowing of the crowd.

 

[crablab]

The Standard has published an article on this. It doesn't mention the Gareth Dennis debacle but has got quotes from Network Rail.

London Euston 'chaos' leads to calls for Network Rail to improve safety

Bad weather and trespasser cause day of misery for many

www.standard.co.uk

London Euston passengers have demanded change after a “chaotic” day of travel that saw overcrowding, and with many forced to sprint for their trains.

Network Rail has acknowledged a “challenging day” on Sunday that saw bad weather and a trespasser cause misery to thousands looking to travel north-west of the capital.

With many feeling conditions were unsafe, including those who said they needed to wait outside in the pouring rain to avoid a crush, improvement has been demanded.

“The sheer angst of staring at the board until they announce the platform with three minutes until your train,” tweeted the Law Society’s John Hyde, “[It’s] like Squid Game but with a Boots.”

“Euston is straight up dangerous,” Frank Peschier wrote. “What is the logic in showing trains on one board when you have three of them.

“Then there is the terrifying crush once platforms [are] announced [at the] last minute.”

Jamie Wallis said: “It’s a horrific situation, I have been travelling up to [Manchester] Piccadilly every Sunday and I feel panicky even before I get to the station. It is always so crowded and chaotic.”

Others said that they did not enter the station for fear of a crush and waited in the square just outside while it rained.

The Guardian’s Barney Ronay tweeted: “Euston is easily, easily the worst main station in western Europe. It’s like being taken away to be machine gunned in the woods by various mobile phone and soft drink companies.”
Read More

Other major stations, such as King’s Cross, Victoria, and London Bridge, have all either been renovated recently or have been earmarked to be.

Network Rail has responded to a request from the Standard to say that the station is set to undergo a major upgrade.

“We are progressing with long term plans for a major upgrade to Euston Station,” a statement read.

“This will deliver a brand-new station concourse that’s fit for the future, brighter and offers improved facilities to passengers. We will keep passengers up to date as we advance with stages of this work.”

London Euston serves major hubs such as Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool, and is used by more than 31 million every year.

Gareth Parry, London Euston’s station manager said: “Sunday was a challenging day for the railway, with delays from bad weather and a trespasser meaning people had to wait at Euston for some time before being able to catch their train.

“Keeping passengers safe is our absolute priority and we take special measures to manage congestion when Euston is disrupted, including working with police to manage passenger flows.

“It is nonetheless a challenging station to operate and we have already taken steps to ease congestion, from installing departure screens outside, to clearing the concourse of retail units and trialling earlier boarding of trains to keep the concourse as free as possible.

“We’re sorry passengers were delayed and we are continually working hard to improve their experience at our station.”

 

[33021]

The Independent has published an article on this. It doesn't mention the Gareth Dennis debacle but has got quotes from Network Rail.

London Euston 'chaos' leads to calls for Network Rail to improve safety

Bad weather and trespasser cause day of misery for many

www.standard.co.uk

Euston has been a challenge (and awful in disruption) since HS2 ‘borrowed’ platforms 17 & 18 some years back…

Squeezing GWR services in too for HS2 work will no doubt help too…

 

[norbitonflyer]

Yes I know. But it's still only 250m or thereabouts from the middle of the concourse to halfway down the furthest platform. My point was that non-regular passengers will not know how far it is so may be more inclined to rush than if they could see how far it is.

No - at Paddington you are right next to the train as soon as you are through the barrier, and if whistles start to be blown you can get onto the train by the nearest door and find your seat (or an unreserved one if you haven't reserved) after the train has started moving if necessary.

But at Euston you have to walk 250metres before you even get near the train, and even the you still have to negotiate the barriers. Only when you have done all that can you be certain you will be able to board the train at all. Hence the rush.

 

[Meerkat]

The Standard has published an article on this. It doesn't mention the Gareth Dennis debacle but has got quotes from Network Rail.

London Euston 'chaos' leads to calls for Network Rail to improve safety

Bad weather and trespasser cause day of misery for many

www.standard.co.uk

Trialling earlier boarding? Are they….how?

 

[Harpo]

Trialling earlier boarding? Are they….how?

From my own experiences, of seeing trains ready but barriers closed, just having additional barrier staff might help?

 

[Dr Hoo]

Trialling earlier boarding? Are they….how?

Seemed to be working on Tuesday, despite some late running and cancellations. No crowds on the concourse, my Holyhead train (2x5 Class 805) on the boards 15 minutes before departure from Platform 15. Three courteous staff checking tickets on the ramp, steady trickle of passengers and punctual departure.
(The reservations and coach lettering on the 805 were completely wrong, causing a lot of customer disappointment but Euston Station would have got 10/10.)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seemed to be working on Tuesday, despite some late running and cancellations. No crowds on the concourse, my Holyhead train (2x5 Class 805) on the boards 15 minutes before departure from Platform 15. Three courteous staff checking tickets on the ramp, steady trickle of passengers and punctual departure.
(The reservations and coach lettering on the 805 were completely wrong, causing a lot of customer disappointment but Euston Station would have got 10/10.)

I also used Euston on Tuesday, leaving on the 1816. It did seem rather better than usual - noticeably so. The 1816 was boarded around 1800, and the staff were happy for those in the know to hang around on the ramp rather than shouting at them.

 

[londonmidland]

Euston is really struggling this afternoon and evening due to multiple incidents causing major delays. This includes the ongoing line block north of Carlisle, due to a fallen tree damaging the OLE, as well as an earlier fatality at Bushey.

At one point, it looked like Euston was set up as exit only as services were suspended.

Pictures show passengers at a crowded London Euston station, both inside the concourse and outside the station. This is due to ongoing disruption.

 

[thomalex]

Who on earth is in charge of this hell hole and why is nothing being done to improve it?

Every change that has been made over the last decade from squeezing in a mezzanine floor, exiting the tube via the rain, giant advert board, train announcements 5 mins before departure etc have each made things worse. What is the oversight here.

 

[87electric]

Who on earth is in charge of this hell hole and why is nothing being done to improve it?

Every change that has been made over the last decade from squeezing in a mezzanine floor, exiting the tube via the rain, giant advert board, train announcements 5 mins before departure etc have each made things worse. What is the oversight here.

No one gives a damn about the passenger/customer. Gareth Dennis at least has the balls to confront this situation. Nothing will happen until some unfortunate person suffers in some way.

 

[michael8]

Looking at those photos, what a silly station. I understand the idea of getting more revenue from ads. But not at the expense of information, and actually, I think Euston has lost the plot.

 

[Trackman]

Looking at those photos, what a silly station. I understand the idea of getting more revenue from ads. But not at the expense of information, and actually, I think Euston has lost the plot.

It does go into 'emergency mode' in these situations and suppresses ads and shows information from NR. Seems no-one has activated it yet.

 

[Kite159]

I made the mistake of cutting across the outdoor concourse at Euston this evening when heading towards a restaurant for a forum meal as it was truly chaotic with barriers closed and shouty staff shouting "station closed".

 

[michael8]

It does go into 'emergency mode' in these situations and suppresses ads and shows information from NR. Seems no-one has activated it yet.

It's almost dystopian to see the scenes of hundreds of passengers "blocked" (or however one wants to describe the situation), but the Coca Cola adverts above continue to play....

 

[SCDR_WMR]

It does go into 'emergency mode' in these situations and suppresses ads and shows information from NR. Seems no-one has activated it yet.

It was in emergency mode from 12.40 - 15.40 which is when lines reopened.

I presume that was the situation once commuters hit the station as I was actively helping LNWR staff on the concourse for 3 hours and it was never that busy and was being very well managed and contained.

I left the station roughly 16.40 and it was just starting to fill up a bit more

 

[Benjwri]

Euston is really struggling this afternoon and evening due to multiple incidents causing major delays. This includes the ongoing line block north of Carlisle, due to a fallen tree damaging the OLE, as well as an earlier fatality at Bushey.

At one point, it looked like Euston was set up as exit only as services were suspended.

Bar the stupid ad board I have seen worse at most other Terminals. Certainly Paddington and Waterloo.

 

[och aye]

If by sheer coincidence I experienced Euston for the first time in my life a few weeks ago, and my goodness, what a horrendous mess! It probably didn't help matters that there were several services delayed/cancelled, but the concourse was absolutely packed. It's definitely not going to be a good experience for people who are claustrophobic that's for sure. Thinking back, if an emergency alarm went off, the potential for people for getting crushed or trampled on if they slipped would have been quite high.

Honestly, I think I'd be willing to spend a bit more money to travel back up North via Kings Cross than via Euston again!

 

[Horizon22]

It's almost dystopian to see the scenes of hundreds of passengers "blocked" (or however one wants to describe the situation), but the Coca Cola adverts above continue to play....

I do wonder what more people want during a suspension of service - other than changing the screens into “emergency mode” (I wonder what convoluted process NR have developed for that…). Other stations have looked just as bad when there’s something like a fatality or suspension of trains for >1 hour.

People say that crowd control needs to be implemented more often and then it is and there’s still complaints.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

People say that crowd control needs to be implemented more often and then it is and there’s still complaints.

The one thing that annoyed passengers during the initial suspension was the blue clad 'incident crowd control' people who were like extreme versions of Man Piccadilly's P13/14 yellers.

Literally strolling across the front of the retail units/ramps yelling to move out of the way, this area must be kept clear of passengers.

 

[Harpo]

The one thing that annoyed passengers during the initial suspension was the blue clad 'incident crowd control' people who were like extreme versions of Man Piccadilly's P13/14 yellers.

Literally strolling across the front of the retail units/ramps yelling to move out of the way, this area must be kept clear of passengers.

There's an early 'win' for GBR - Eliminate shouting at your customers. Everywhere.

 

[Dr Hoo]

There's an early 'win' for GBR - Eliminate shouting at your customers. Everywhere.

What’s your alternative strategy for keeping areas clear so that alighting/ incoming passengers can clear the platforms in the short term?

 

[Falcon1200]

When trains are running normally, (seemingly) delaying platform information and thereby unnecessarily causing congestion, and panic, is clearly not acceptable. However, when, as on Thursday afternoon, nothing leaves Euston for 3 hours and passengers are still arriving at the station but with nowhere to go, how could such numbers ever be comfortably accommodated?

 

[Horizon22]

The one thing that annoyed passengers during the initial suspension was the blue clad 'incident crowd control' people who were like extreme versions of Man Piccadilly's P13/14 yellers.

Literally strolling across the front of the retail units/ramps yelling to move out of the way, this area must be kept clear of passengers.

If that’s part of the crowd control plan to keep that area clear then at least it’s being followed - even if it’s brash.

I’m not defending their behaviour entirely, but it is amazing how when there is serious disruption people do not realise how bad it is and sometimes you have to resort to firm and clear announcements as people do not listen and keep trying to pile in. People asking when the next train is and rushing in to catch the 1602 going when the station is clearly closed to everyone at 1600.

Of course this could be better mitigated with information screens showing alternative routes and an announcement on a 5 min loop.