The End Of The Line For Crossrail 2?
Southgate is famed in transport and architectural circles for its wonderful Underground station. So you would think, that New Southgate station would be even better and certainly newer.
But you’d be mistaken as these pictures show.
This is the station though, which is now being proposed as one of the northern terminals of Crossrail 2.
I suspect the station will probably be rebuilt, even if Crossrail 2 doesn’t use it as a terminus, as it must be one of the worst examples of corrugated iron stations in the country.
I can’t say I can remember ever catching a train from New Southgate Station, until today, when I returned to Central London. I also don’t think I’ve ever taken a train to the station either, although I’ve been on trains through the station countless times.
It does appear that there is space for another platform either side of the current station, which must be the minimum if the station is to be a terminus for Crossrail 2.
Travelling back in to London after taking the pictures, I can understand, the proposed change of terminus to the station from Alexandra Palace. There’s just so much more space to put a depot if one is needed. New Southgate would also allow a future development of Crossrail 2, to use the Hertford Loop as another branch.
Looking at the map, as New Southgate station is close to the North Circular Road and is generally surrounded by industrial estates, although there is some housing, there would be scope to probably create a really good transport interchange with a large bus station and perhaps even a tram line along the North Circular Road from Brent Cross to Enfield or Southgate. If nothing else, all of the work should result in the notorious bottleneck on the road being eased.
Only The Names Have Changed
I took this picture at Southgate station.
Only The Names Have Changed
The banks, when I passed through in the 1950s, were I think, Westminster on the left and Midland on the right. I also think there was a National Provincial there as well.
Note the period finger post in the middle of the road.
To Southgate For a Cup Of Tea
This morning, I took the Piccadilly line to Southgate to try out one of the new Tesco-financed coffee-shops called Harris and Hoole.
The tea was excellent and properly served in a pot. Note the triple-barrelled tea timer, which could time your tea to exactly 3, 4 or 5 minutes. If they’d sold them in the shop, I’d have bought one, but they don’t at present. But they are available on-line from here!
The staff were attentive and if they can replicate this style, the company may have created something like an updated traditional coffee shop, that you still see occasionally in places like Harrogate. It certainly has a better ambience than Starbucks and is laid out with quite a bit of space.
At present, they don’t have any gluten-free offerings, but apparently, they’re working on it. They do though have EatNakd bars.
Overall it’s a good concept and I wish them well, despite the Tesco connection. My allergy to the supermarket chain stems from a business run-in years ago and where there are alternatives I go elsewhere.
In the 1950s and 1960s, when I was at Minchenden Grammar School just up the road, the only coffee bar was the Mayfair a few doors towards Cockfosters from where Harris and Hoole is now. That place was beloved of teddy-boys and served coffee in those shallow Pyrex cups. It was off-limits during school hours!
Torch Chasing in North London – Southgate
Today, I went to see the Olympic Torch Relay in Southgate, where I went to school at Minchenden.
Unfortunately, a jobsworth wasn;t allowing access to the old school grounds, so all I got was a picture of my first classroom and the wall that kept us all in. So instead, I walked to Southgate Green and watched the torch come through there. Note the Lothian and Borders policeman! Southgate must be one of the cushiest postings in London.
I also made a video of the Olympic Torch Relay as it passed.
I was standing outside Walker School.
The Anonymous Widower 