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Kings X "One Way System"

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westv

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What on earth was going on this morning? They had some sort of one way system for passengers which was a slight pain. Travel update page said there were no problems. I trust this was a one day thing.
 
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duncanp

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I noticed this, and it will affect me when trying to get down to the Victoria Line this afternoon.

They usually do this when there is an escalator out of action that might lead to congestion, but I didn't see anything not working.

If it is still closed, it is actually quicker to enter via the Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan entrance, rather than take the officially signed route to the tube lines. (via John O'Groats - or so it seems)
 

Bletchleyite

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Is that the reason why they've put a sticker at the bottom of the spiral staircase up from the northbound Bank branch telling you not to walk up it any more? They tend to force people down it when escalator work is being done, and if it's being used heavily it's a bit dangerous/disruptive to walk up.
 

duncanp

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If the escalator work at Euston is the reason, that that is going to be a pain in the a***, as it is going to last for more than a year. <(

Surely if more people are using Kings Cross to get to the Northern and Victoria Lines, it would make more sense to have the entrances via both ticket halls open, to even up the flow of passengers.

If you force everyone to enter via the Northern ticket hall, then you should really make everyone exit via the tube ticket hall. Otherwise you will have congestion in the narrow passageway from the Northern ticket hall, especially as there are some people who are totally incapable of observing the "Keep Left" signs.
 

Tetchytyke

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Which escalators are being worked on at Euston? There's been intermittent closures for the last two years with the escalators from the -2 level down to the platforms being refurbished. My reckoning was that they'd done three of the four escalators, with one still to be done, is that the one they're working on now?
 

Mojo

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Which escalators are being worked on at Euston? There's been intermittent closures for the last two years with the escalators from the -2 level down to the platforms being refurbished. My reckoning was that they'd done three of the four escalators, with one still to be done, is that the one they're working on now?
They were working on the escalators from the lower circulating area to the Northern line (City branch)/Victoria line. The current work involves work on the escalators from ticket hall level.
 

duncanp

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Pleased to report that at 4pm today the entrance to the Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines from the tube ticket hall was open again.

So perhaps it is a peak hour only thing, or there was a staff shortage.

As I said earlier, if more people are using Kings Cross due to the work at Euston, it makes more sense to have both entrances open.
 

bluegoblin7

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This morning the station opened late, and then opened only partially, due to a staff shortage.

The station later fully opened, but with a one-way system in place via the Northern and Western gatelines (with the Tube gateline for exit and interchange only) for the morning peak.

This will remain in place most mornings for the duration of the escalator works at Euston, unless there is a change to travel habits. Despite some suggestions above, this is the easiest and most manageable solution to ensure that overcrowding has a minimal effect at platform level.

It is possible that the system will be tweaked if it needs to be put in long term, and one-way exit has also been spoken about.
 

westv

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What a PITA. So to get to the tube from the mainline station now involves a half day trek. <(


...ok maybe a slight exaggeration but it's still annoying.
 

Clip

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Whilst I understand its a pain the regulating of the flow of the passengers via a longer more circuitous route stops there being over crowding on the platforms and thus having to shut of the station completely. Its one or the other im afraid.
 

duncanp

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I passed through Kings Cross at 06:30 today, and the gatelines at the tube ticket hall were open for entry and exit.

Making everyone enter via the Northern ticket hall is not a "one-way" system unless you make everyone exit via the Tube ticket hall, which it is of course impossible to do.

The passageway from the Northern ticket hall is quite narrow, and there is frequently congestion with conflicting flows of people in different directions.
 

westv

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I passed through Kings Cross at 06:30 today, and the gatelines at the tube ticket hall were open for entry and exit.

Making everyone enter via the Northern ticket hall is not a "one-way" system unless you make everyone exit via the Tube ticket hall, which it is of course impossible to do.

The passageway from the Northern ticket hall is quite narrow, and there is frequently congestion with conflicting flows of people in different directions.

Well "one way" was TFL's wording, not mine. There was no entry via the gates you get to if entering via the steps at the front of the station. Is that the tube ticket hall gates?
 

bluegoblin7

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Well "one way" was TFL's wording, not mine. There was no entry via the gates you get to if entering via the steps at the front of the station. Is that the tube ticket hall gates?

The one-way system won't have been put in until around 0700, as it isn't needed before then.

Exit may not be one-way (and it is something that has been fed back by those of us left to implement it), but entry is, so the term is accurate.

As mentioned by other posters, the alternative to 'the long trek' (It really isn't that long, take it from someone who walks it many times every day) would be to close the station either partially or completely for a longer period of time.
 

westv

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Around 1/2 mile if a passenger arrives at the rear of a mainline train and walks to the signposted entrance to the Northern Line??
 

bluegoblin7

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Around 1/2 mile if a passenger arrives at the rear of a mainline train and walks to the signposted entrance to the Northern Line??

I haven't laughed that much for months. Maximum that walk would take you five minutes. Absolute maximum.
 

Tetchytyke

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I haven't laughed that much for months. Maximum that walk would take you five minutes. Absolute maximum.

I don't know so much, from the last carriage of a mainline train to the Victoria Line probably is about that. Half a mile is 800m, a 12-car 365 is 250m long even before you start.

The one-way system is because the "old" ticket hall gets very overcrowded in a morning anyway, even without all the passengers from Euston, which is why TfL have deliberately signposted people away from that ticket hall.
 

bluegoblin7

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I don't know so much, from the last carriage of a mainline train to the Victoria Line probably is about that. Half a mile is 800m, a 12-car 365 is 250m long even before you start.

The one-way system is because the "old" ticket hall gets very overcrowded in a morning anyway, even without all the passengers from Euston, which is why TfL have deliberately signposted people away from that ticket hall.

Victoria line I would agree, but not for the Northern line as stated by the previous poster.

It's less an issue of the ticket Hall getting crowded, but more at platform level. The Tube Gateline deposits travellers directly onto the platforms - going via the North will spread the flow out due to the different destinations and walking paces.
 

Hadders

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I passed through Kings Cross St Pancras yesterday morning at 0800 and heard announcements about no entry via the Tube ticket hall. Thankfully I needed the Northern Line so was happy to use the Northern Ticket Hall but had I needed the Victoria Line then I wouldn't have been best pleased with a hike via the 'tourist' route!
 

bluegoblin7

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I passed through Kings Cross St Pancras yesterday morning at 0800 and heard announcements about no entry via the Tube ticket hall. Thankfully I needed the Northern Line so was happy to use the Northern Ticket Hall but had I needed the Victoria Line then I wouldn't have been best pleased with a hike via the 'tourist' route!

Funny how everyone forgets the short walk across the square, past McDonald's and entry via the old Thameslink/Pentonville Road entrance... ;)
 

Blindtraveler

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Permission to take this a tad off topic but only a tad...Is there any escalater access from the Euston Ticket hall to the mid level at all or is it totally reliant on stairs?
And what about in tother direction from Mid Level to ticket hall?
 

rebmcr

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Permission to take this a tad off topic but only a tad...Is there any escalater access from the Euston Ticket hall to the mid level at all or is it totally reliant on stairs?
And what about in tother direction from Mid Level to ticket hall?

Ticket hall down to mid level is currently one escalator (usually two). Coming back up it's the normal two at the moment.
 

yorkie

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Trying to get across that pedestrian crossing by La Scala is more hassle than it is worth ;)
If arriving in a low numbered platform and specifically wanting the Victoria Line, I'd still say it's worth it though... particularly if there is a possibility of congestion through the main entrance.
 

Blindtraveler

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Ticket hall down to mid level is currently one escalator (usually two). Coming back up it's the normal two at the moment.

Thanks, just the answer I wanted! Whilst a long walk or lots of steps does not bother me its not so good for the Mrs and as we've just been given a pare of First Class returns by VWC as compensation I was trying to work out if changing to Southern at WFJ was a better shout but sounds like simply allowing plenty padding in our shedule will be enough
 

duncanp

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Perhaps it would be worth writing to London Underground.

I am sure they get lots of complaints - it would be nice for staff who are doing a difficult job to receive some compliments.
 

westv

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I see the one way system has been back again for the last two Mondays I've been to Kings X. Escalator work again?
As far as I can see the TFL website says nothing. Any ideas as to when we can see the back of it all?
 
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