Is The Nightmare On The Buses Going To Get Worse?
This morning after photographing the finish of the Bank Station Upgrade, I walked down the side of the new Cannon Street entrance to catch a 141 bus from King William Street to my home.
Note.
- There are two bus stops for the 21, 43 and 141 buses on King William Street; one Northbound and one Southbound.
- The bus stops are a two minute level walk from the gate-line at the Cannon Street entrance.
- To go between the gate-line and the Northbound stop requires no crossing of any road, but the route to the Southbound stop requires the use of a light-controlled crossing.
- The Cannon Street entrance is step-free and only a short walk, between the street and the platforms of the Docklands Light Railway and the Northern Line.
- The access to the Central Line is also easy, but a longer walk.
This afternoon, I walked the other way from the Southbound bus stop on King William Street to the new Cannon Street entrance of Bank station.
Note.
- It is a totally level walk.
- There are lights to help the crossing of King William Street.
- The concrete building on the other side of King William Street is the other end of the new station entrance.
- It looked to me, that there was a retail unit in the corner of that building. This was confirmed by station staff and it would surely be an ideal place for an upmarket takeaway.
- The building on the corner of Cannon Street and King William Street is a set of shared offices. Again it is in a prime position.
- You can also walk from the bus stop to the main Monument station entrance.
I timed myself from the Southbound stop on King William Street to the various platforms.
- Central Line – Under five minutes
- Dockland Light Railway – Under four minutes
- Northern Line – Under three minutes
Will these times encourage passengers to use the new entrance and its buses to North London?
If I was looking for offices for a foreign company, that wanted to be in the City, as I do occasionally for an American attorney, I would start in this area.
Step-Free Access On The Northern Line Is Rather Variable
If you look at the step-free access on this section of the Northern Line, you find the following.
- Euston – Escalators – No Lifts until High Speed Two
- King’s Cross – Escalators – One Lift to platform
- Angel – Escalators – No Lifts – Medium walk to the buses
- Old Street – Escalators – No Lifts – Medium walk to the buses
- Moorgate – Escalators – Long Lift route – Medium walk to the buses
- Bank (North) – Escalators – Lots of Steps – Medium walk to the buses
- Bank (Cannon Street) – Escalators – Two Lifts to platforms – Short walk to buses
- London Bridge – Escalators – One Lift to platform – Steps to buses
Note.
- If I was going between My House and the Northern Line South of Bank station, I’d change between the 141 bus and the Northern Line at the Cannon Street entrance to Bank station.
- Alternatively, I can take a 38 bus to the Angel and join the route there. But that route can be very slow coming North, as there is a lot of walking. Going South, it’s also likely to be blocked by a Tesco truck at the Angel.
- Between My House and the Docklands Light Railway, I’d change from the 141 bus at the Cannon Street entrance to Bank station.
- I might even take that route, if I wanted the Central Line out of Bank.
It does appear that as the new Cannon Street entrance to Bank station has been well-designed with full step-free access and short walks to the bus stops, that it will be the interchange of choice for many travellers to and from the area, who are using the buses.
Conclusion
I feel that a lot of passengers from North London will use the 21, 43 and 141 buses to access the Central and Northern Lines, and the Docklands Light Railway using the new Cannon Street entrance to the Bank station complex.
I very much feel that all three bus routes will have a lot more passengers, so the Nightmare On The Buses, is likely to get worse.
The Anonymous Widower 