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Ticket gates on platforms 8 and 9 at Paddington

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JonathanH

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As mentioned in the fares part of the forum, it appears that proposals are being brought forward for ticket gates on platforms 8 and 9 at Paddington.

This was part of the Direct Award
79. Paddington Platform Ticket Gates
The Franchisee shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure by no later than 31 March 2021 (and in any event by no later than 31 October 2022) the installation of commissioned and operational automatic ticket gates at platforms 8 and 9 at London Paddington station. The Franchisee shall ensure that such ticket gates are staffed for eight (8) hours during any Weekday and four (4) hours during any day that is not a Weekday from the date of completion of installation and commissioning for the remainder of the Franchise Term. The Franchisee’s obligations under this paragraph 79 are conditional on all applicable consents (including listed building and other planning consents, Network Rail consent, and station change at London Paddington station), which the Franchisee shall in each case use all reasonable endeavours to obtain.

The planning application, made initially on 4 March 2021 and subsequently updated is here
https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/o...ils.do?keyVal=QPG963RPIZV00&activeTab=summary
21/01351/LBC | Installation of Automatic Ticket Gatelines and CCTV at Platforms 8 and 9 and associated works. | Paddington Station Praed Street London W2 1HB

This shows the positioning of the new gatelines.
https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/o...BC-PROPOSED_PLATFORM_8_AND_9_PLAN-6782210.pdf
1617725899992.png

While welcoming the gating of these platforms, which is long overdue, what is surprising to me is that they are not preserving the walking route to the back of the station using this platform and the bicycle racks remain in place.

I would have put a long wall down the length of platforms 8 and 9 starting on each platform at the foot of the footbridge and had separate gate lines for platform 8 and platform 9 half way down the platform, akin to what was done on platform 12. I wouldn't be removing the barrier between platform 9 and 10 either. Given there is already a pinchpoint at the foot of the steps to the overbridge, there doesn't seem to be any reason not to gate the platforms in this way.

I guess the importance of this walking route has reduced since the removal of platform 13 and the change in access to the Hammersmith & City line.

I appreciate that gating platform 1 is difficult but it can't be impossible.
 
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mr_moo

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IIRC the bike racks are for the use of season ticket holders only (although it will be interesting to see what the effect of covid will be on that) so access is presumably not much of an issue. The walking route via plat 1 or via the taxi rank etc is still available so p9 not needed. Seems a good idea and minium fencing and equipment.

Thanks for sharing.
 

JonathanH

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That only applies to pl. 10-11, whilst 8-9 is for everyone to use.
Well if the bike racks are going inside the gateline then 8-9 are going to be for rail travellers only in future - it isn't obvious how a traveller arriving on platforms 2-5 and losing their ticket in the gates is going to be able to access the cycle area.
 

RPI

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Just platform one to do now. (Yes I know, virtually impossible!)
 

JonathanH

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Just platform one to do now. (Yes I know, virtually impossible!)
...and if anything made worse by the way they are doing platforms 8 and 9 directing the walking route to the overbridge down platform 1

Why not gate all of platform 1 and require some sort of platform ticket to access the amenities on the platform. How many actually need general access? The first class lounge requires a ticket, some of the places are staff facillities. The gate line could be by the wider area by the old route out to the taxi rank with a partition down the platform up to that point, like on London Victoria platform 2.
 

Non Multi

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Do the un-barriered platforms have their own contactless/smartcard readers?

Edit: from looking at a thread on the ticketing sub forum, those platforms do have validators.
 
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southern442

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Why not gate all of platform 1 and require some sort of platform ticket to access the amenities on the platform. How many actually need general access? The first class lounge requires a ticket, some of the places are staff facillities. The gate line could be by the wider area by the old route out to the taxi rank with a partition down the platform up to that point, like on London Victoria platform 2.
There's a costa and a McDonalds that are fairly well used, so perhaps a partition might be good, although it might spoil the appearance of the platform a little.
 

colchesterken

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Cannot do that, the end of platform 1 is one of my London train spotting places
along with the end of 9 at Kings Cross
 

JonathanH

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Cannot do that, the end of platform 1 is one of my London train spotting places
along with the end of 9 at Kings Cross
How do you get to the end of platform 9 at Kings Cross? Wouldn't the same apply at Paddington if platform 1 was gated?
 

Wolfie

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...and if anything made worse by the way they are doing platforms 8 and 9 directing the walking route to the overbridge down platform 1

Why not gate all of platform 1 and require some sort of platform ticket to access the amenities on the platform. How many actually need general access? The first class lounge requires a ticket, some of the places are staff facillities. The gate line could be by the wider area by the old route out to the taxi rank with a partition down the platform up to that point, like on London Victoria platform 2.
Gating all of platform 1 would put quite a high proportion of the station toilets behind a gateline, l doubt that would be acceptable.The others are on platform 12 - are they already behind gates? I haven't been to Paddington since CV.
 

JonathanH

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The others are on platform 12 - are they already behind gates?
No, those toilets are outside the gateline. I think under my suggestion the toilets on platform 1 would also be outside the gateline.

The only thing inside a gateline situated beyond McDonald's where there is a wider space available would be the first class lounge and you need a ticket to get in there in any case.

Access to the car park is available via Bishops Bridge Road / Eastbourne Terrace.
 
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Steddenm

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Isn't Platform 1 classed as a listed building separately to the main trainshed so popping barriers on there may be difficult with planning etc.
 

JonathanH

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Isn't Platform 1 classed as a listed building separately to the main trainshed so popping barriers on there may be difficult with planning etc.
No, the buildings and facade along platform 1 are listed, not the platform itself.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1066881

PADDINGTON STATION INCLUDING THE LAWN, GWR OFFICE BLOCK ON LONDON STREET AND OFFICES ALONG EASTBOURNE TERRACE

The frontage of these buildings to Platform 1 is single-storey and has an arcaded treatment as on the street facade, designed by Matthew Digby Wyatt. Features include a 5-bay open arcade through to the street with the centre carrying the fine three-faced station clock supported on elaborate brackets; the Stationmaster's balcony which is an elaborate triple oriel with arched openings and Moorish style ironwork; and the GWR War Memorial of polished granite and Portland stone designed by TS Tait, with a fine bronze figure of an infantryman by Charles Sarjeant Jagger. This is inscribed on the base 'In honour of those who served in the World Wars 1914-1918, 1939-1945. 25,479 men of the Great Western Railway joined His Majesty's forces, 2,254 gave their lives.''
Having said that, I guess I am effectively arguing for the gates to be installed in circulating space on the platform created by the '5-bay open facade'
 

Steddenm

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Aah that explains it then. Will still be difficult to barrier because as people have said there are toilets, Costa Coffee, McDonald's and the GWR First Class Lounge there and also some exits to the street that I am guessing will reopen once the CrossRail works have completed.
 

JonathanH

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Aah that explains it then. Will still be difficult to barrier because as people have said there are toilets, Costa Coffee, McDonald's and the GWR First Class Lounge there and also some exits to the street that I am guessing will reopen once the CrossRail works have completed.
Yes, but a partition can be built along the platform in a sympathetic way to enable continued access. It seems to be acceptable to make the bike rack on platform 8 and 9 go inside the gateline.
 

Steddenm

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If they build a partition then passengers using the first class lounge will have to go back to the gateline if their train (ie sleeper) is on Plat 1
 

JonathanH

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If they build a partition then passengers using the first class lounge will have to go back to the gateline if their train (ie sleeper) is on Plat 1
No, the first class lounge would be inside the gateline if the partition ended at the open facade. I don't see a problem with that as a ticket is required for the first class lounge in any case.
 
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