Trivia: Stations that close to passengers at times when they’d be most useful

[greyman42]

Because Alexandre Palace is too near to the event. It's the extended walking distance that presents stations with a steadier stream of passengers that the crush that would result if the nearest staton was open. See my post #54 above. TfL here been managing large event flows this way for years, generally improving the situation for event attendees, other members of the public travelling and staff.

So i presume that Wembley Park is geared up to handle large crowds and also has the frequency of service.

 

[Dave W]

So i presume that Wembley Park is geared up to handle large crowds and also has the frequency of service.

If you've ever been to Ally Pally you'll know it's a horrible station to have queuing systems at - tight concourse, even tighter footbridge, hemmed in by roads with narrow footways on both sides.

Equally though, Wembley has several times as many people in it for an event, and Wembley Park is built accordingly.

All this ignores the premier way to get out of Ally Pally - roll gently down the hill to the Victoria Stakes for a W7 forward to Finsbury Park

 

[AM9]

So i presume that Wembley Park is geared up to handle large crowds and also has the frequency of service.

Wembley Park is at the northern end of Olympic Way which runs from the stadium. It is about 15m wide and there are stairs the same width leading right onto two distributor footbridges. There are double platforms in each direction for Metropolitan trains and singles for Jubilee services. To see the station working at the end of an event is impressive. There's usually little queueing as additional trains can remove the crowd before each platform saturates.

 

[faltskog36abba]

Years ago I was dragged against my will to see[ Stepps ] at Manchester Arena. The concert overran or there was a hiccup that meant we came out of the concert later than Advertised. Our last train had left Manchester Victoria, Do concerts finish nowadays to enable people to catch the Train/Tram from Victoria home?.

 

[greyman42]

If you've ever been to Ally Pally you'll know it's a horrible station to have queuing systems at - tight concourse, even tighter footbridge, hemmed in by roads with narrow footways on both sides.

Equally though, Wembley has several times as many people in it for an event, and Wembley Park is built accordingly.

All this ignores the premier way to get out of Ally Pally - roll gently down the hill to the Victoria Stakes for a W7 forward to Finsbury Park

I have never been to Ally Pally so was unaware of what the station was like to use.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Years ago I was dragged against my will to see[ Stepps ] at Manchester Arena. The concert overran or there was a hiccup that meant we came out of the concert later than Advertised. Our last train had left Manchester Victoria, Do concerts finish nowadays to enable people to catch the Train/Tram from Victoria home?.

Depends what time the concert actually finished. Much after 10.45 p.m. -> 11 p.m. and many final train departures will already have gone, although sometimes it's a little bit later for the last trams, but not that much later. Concert hall management at the Manchester (AO) Arena really should know this.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Cardiff Queen Street often closes during match days, however I believe passengers can usually still interchange there.

Is this a devious plan to stop fans in the know using Queen St to Central trains to avoid waiting for ages in the massive queues which form outside Central?

 

[duncanp]

Wembley Park is at the northern end of Olympic Way which runs from the stadium. It is about 15m wide and there are stairs the same width leading right onto two distributor footbridges. There are double platforms in each direction for Metropolitan trains and singles for Jubilee services. To see the station working at the end of an event is impressive. There's usually little queueing as additional trains can remove the crowd before each platform saturates.

And there is also Wembley Central (for London Overground and the Bakerloo Line) plus Wembley Stadium (Chiltern Railways).

This means that there are several alternatives, depending on destination.

Is this a devious plan to stop fans in the know using Queen St to Central trains to avoid waiting for ages in the massive queues which form outside Central?

Do some Manchester United fans walking to tram stops on the Trafford Park or Eccles lines after a match rather than use the main stop on the Altrincham line?

When I used to go to rugby at Twickenham, it was often easier to walk to Hounslow National Rail station or Hounslow East tube station rather than stand in a huge queue to try and get on a train at Twickenham station.

 

[zwk500]

When I used to go to rugby at Twickenham, it was often easier to walk to Hounslow National Rail station or Hounslow East tube station rather than stand in a huge queue to try and get on a train at Twickenham station.

For major matches, walking to Richmond and stopping for a pint there was also a good option. For smaller matches, or Quins games, the Cabbage Patch or Webb Ellis were usually not too bad to wait for the queues to die down.

 

[LOL The Irony]

Isn't overcrowding the reason the National Rail station at Manchester United Football Ground was shut.

Yes, there isn't space to hold the crowds as the station backs directly onto the ground's concourse. The tram being a bit further away and designed for today's capacity means there's space to hold the crowds safely. The trams also probably offer a better service to the crowds as it is more frequent and goes to Manchester Victoria and the north side of the city centre.

My understanding is that it was more due to security concerns following the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Either seems plausible.

From what I've gathered from here over the years, it was due to the crowds and the area becoming part of the MUFC security zone.

 

[Benjwri]

Not a regular thing, but Bath Spa closing on the strike day this month would have to be an example, as normally on strike days the London - Bristol IC services stop. Was because the strike timetable wouldn't handle the Christmas Market crowds, led to every park and ride and car park being full and the buses being overwhelmed, although the council had a great day handing out PCNs to people who couldn't find parking.

 

[Jimini]

For major matches, walking to Richmond and stopping for a pint there was also a good option. For smaller matches, or Quins games, the Cabbage Patch or Webb Ellis were usually not too bad to wait for the queues to die down.

That’s the only sensible option aye St. Margaret’s Tavern is also a good stop off point to enjoy a scoop or two while the crowds disperse.

 

[Ex-controller]

Mount Florida effectively closes to all non football passenger traffic just after big games at Hampden so that crowds can be moved. Can only be accessed from one entrance which has a lengthy queue. Pretty frustrating for local residents who need to catch a train at that time.

Now that First Glasgow run buses to/from Hampden at big events the train’s advantage in move large amounts of people is dwindling there too.

 

[Donny_m]

Dawlish station has extra staff and stops ticketless people coming into the station during the Red Arrows in the summer as it provides a great spot to watch them above the crowds.

Not sure how that works now in the age of ticket gates but last time I was there they didn’t have any.

 

[MrPosh]

Frequencies might also have something to do it.

The extra walk to Wood Green isn't too bad. It's certainly not the roughest corner of N22.

Absolutely - it was only the heat after a long day that made the walk a pain.

There was an even larger event chucking out at Finsbury Park, so the less said about the Tube journey the better.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Do some Manchester United fans walking to tram stops on the Trafford Park or Eccles lines after a match rather than use the main stop on the Altrincham line?

I would imagine so. Wharfside metro stop is much nearer to MUFC than the Old Trafford stop - and there are several other stops within a reasonable distance. The Old Trafford stop is next to the Lancashire cricket ground, not the football ground. The question for MU fans is which stop offers the shortest queues and most frequent after-match service.

Manchester City fans, on the other hand, are forced to use Etihad Campus station as Holt Town and Velopark both close after matches. It is often quicker to walk to Piccadilly or catch a bus than to queue for a tram.

I thought the main reason for stopping Northern Rail specials from Piccadilly to the platform at MUFC was lack of capacity on the Castlefield corridor. Services used to be badly timed after matches with long gaps and I remember trains leaving half empty as they couldn't get enough people through the small platform entry gates under the South stand in sufficient time to fill the units.

 

[Haywain]

Many agree, although it does serve a substantial area of north Coventry in regular travel and especially the retail park around the ground. Does anybody know if the station closes for the smaller events at the Indoor Arena as well as the main stadium bowl?

I have travelled to football at the Goodness-knows-what-it's-called-now Arena by train from Coventry. I would expect it to be closed after an event because lots of people waiting on the platform could be considered dangerous.

 

[greyman42]

I have travelled to football at the Goodness-knows-what-it's-called-now Arena by train from Coventry. I would expect it to be closed after an event because lots of people waiting on the platform could be considered dangerous.

As long as you control access into the station then the platform should not be dangerous. Ibrox on the Glasgow Subway is a good example.