The Anonymous Widower

The Steps At Dalston Junction Station

Dalston Junction is a four-platform station and these are the only stairs at the station.

I think the design is excellent.

• They serve all four platforms, so you can’t go the wrong way!
• They are very wide, so have a high capacity.
• There are effectively four handrails for those like me, who want or need to hold on.
• Fit travellers who can lift their case, can use the stairs.
• There is a landing half-way up.
• The stairs are well-lit.
• in 2017-2018, the stairs handled nearly six million passengers.
• The small number of interchange passengers don’t need to use the stairs and walk between platforms on the level.
• The steps are Transport for London’s typical low-slip design.
• At the bottom of the staircase, there is a wide landing area with two train information displays and a 20-30 metre walks to the four platforms.
• At the top of the staircase there is a wide lobby, with the wide gate-line in front of passengers coming up the stairs.
• There is usually, a member of the station staff watching the passenger flows and answering any questions.

But above all there is a single lift about ten-twenty metres from the stairs, so avoiding the stairs is easy and obvious.

I have seen few stairs in stations as well-designed as these.

A few more general observations.

Wide Stairs With A Double Rail In the Middle

This design of stairs is being increasingly seen in London and around Europe.

In Stairs And A Lift At Cannon Street Station, I show a similar installation.

But there are loads like this monstrosity at Bethnal Green station in Before Overground – Stairs Not Fit For Purpose.

How many stations could be improved by widening the staircase?

Probably quite a few, but many staircases are constrained within solid walls.

Handrails

Transport for London generally use round and easy-to-grip handrails.

These are the best I’ve seen, which are on the Amsterdam Metro.

Some on British Rail-era stations are big and square and must be difficult for those with small or frail hands.

An Obvious Lift

At Dalston Junction, the lift is obvious as you approach the stairs.

But in some stations, the lifts are at the other end of the platform.

The Greenford Solution

These pictures show the solution at Greenford station.

Note.

1. There is an up-escalator.
2. A staircase,which is as wide as possible.
3. There are three handrails with a low rail for those who prefer it.
4. There is an inclined lift, which saves space.

I think we’ll see more step-free installations of this style.

Safety

I won’t comment on safety, as I don’t want to bring bad luck to the installations.

Conclusion

All those designing staircases and lift systems for stations, should be made to visit Dalston Junction and Greenford stations in the Peak.

April 7, 2019 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Dalston Junction, Escalators, Good Design, Greenford Station, Inclined Lift, Lift, Safety, Stairs, Step-Free