Seven Sisters Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Seven Sisters station is on the list.
These pictures show the current station.
It is a nightmare.
- There are two London Overground platforms on a viaduct and three deep-level ictoria Line platforms.
- The Overground platforms are accessed by stairs although there is one up escalator and provision was made for another, although it was never installed.
- The Victoria Line station is double-ended with escalators and steps which must be negotiated by all passengers.
- Rabbits would probably feel at home in the warren of tunnels of the Underground station.
- The three subway entrances on Tottenham High Road all have just steep steps.
If ever there was a station designed by a committee of bean counters, with no children or disabilities and rail experience, it is Seven Sisters station.
Extra Pressures
Other factors will come into play in the next few years.
Tottenham Hotspur
As Seven Sisters station is the nearest Underground station to the ground, a lot of supporters walk to matches and other events along Tottenham High Road.
White Hart Lane station is being rebuilt, with increased capacity and full step-free access, so hopefully, passengers on match days at Seven Sisters station will decrease.
But the obvious route to the ground from Euston is probably to take the Victoria Line and walk from Seven Sisters station.
With the new station at White Hart Lane, there may even be an increase in interchange passengers at Seven Sisters station.
Crossrail
In any London railway scheme, Crossrail is the elephant in the room.
Will passengers between Tottenham and Enfield and the West End and Heathrow take the Overground to and from Liverpool Street and then use Crossrail?
For many passengers with limited movement, it could be a better route to avoid Seven Sisters station.
New Trains On The Overground
Hopefully, new Class 710 trains will start to arrive on the Overground this year.
As all new trains do, these will increase the number of passengers through Seven Sisters station, especially as the trains may have a much larger capacity, than the existing Class 315 trains.
Extra Services On The Overground
Transport for London are planning to add extra services through Seven Sisters, which will surely bring more passengers wanting to interchange with the Victoria Line.
Increased Frequency On The Victoria Line
The Victoria Line currently runs at thirty-six trains per hour (tph) all day, with trains running between Walthamstow Central and Brixton stations.
I am sure that the line’s engineers would love to squeeze the magic forty tph out of the line, but the capacity of some stations couldn’t handle the extra passengers.
But one way or another, more passengers will be squeezed into Dear Old Vicky and as she always does, she will deliver and more passengers will want to interchange at Seven Sisters station.
Services Between Seven Sisters And Stratford Stations
The track exists to run services between Lower Edmonton and Statford stations, via Seven Sisters, South Tottenham and Lea Bridge stations.
With all the new housing being built in the area, I feel this could be valuable addition to London’s railways.
As South Tottenham and Lea Bridge stations have step-free access, this might be an improvement that takes pressure from Seven Sisters station, by giving passengers a new route to Crossrail.
Improving Access At Seven Sisters Station
It is obvious, that passenger numbers wil be increasing at Seven Sisters station will be increasing and there will also be a substantial increase in passengers wanting to change between the Overground and the Victoria Line.
So what can be done to solve the various problems?
The Tottenham High Road Subway Entrances
These really only give access to the Victoria Line via an escalator.
Lifts tom the subway could be provided, but that would just get passengers to and from the gate-line. After the gate-line, it is just escalators to the platforms with some steps thrown in for good measure.
Victoria Line Platforms
If you were pushing a buggy or in a wheelchair, your best route to the Underground is probably to take a bus from outside the station in Tottenham High Road to Tottenham Hale station and use the step-free access there, which in a couple of months will also apply to the trains as well.
I doubt we’ll see much improvement to the Underground station, until Crossrail 2 is built, which will probably be in the 2050s.
Overground Platforms
There is a side entrance on Seven Sisters Road, that was probably the original entrance to the station.
Making this route to the Overground platforms step-free, is probably the best way to at least do something positive, as regards step-free access at the station.
It could also be relatively easy to put an escalator on the Londonj-bound platform, where there are two parallel staircases.
Conclusion
This is a very important station, that needs to be made step-free.
But it will be very difficult.
Tottenham Hale Station – 20th May 2019
I took these pictures today at Tottenham Hale station.
The new station is still a shortish time away.
The bridge and Meridian Water station should have opened today.
But as you can see, they didn’t!
Chalkwell And Southend East Stations To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Currently, four c2c stations are not step-free.
- Chalkwell – six tph – 1,968,000
- Ockendon – two tph – 1,055,000
- Southend East – four tph – 1,927,000
- West Horndon – two tph – 416,000
Note.
- tph is trains per hour
- The large number is the number of passengers in 2017-18
As Chalkwell And Southend East stations are the two busiest stations without step-free access, they on the list of stations to be improved.
Chalkwell Station
The Current Station
These pictures show Chalkwell station and a selection of views from the path that runs on the seaward side of the station.
This Google Map shows the Eastern End of the station.
I hope it explains some of the pictures.
- The Booking Office and gate-line are in the building identified by the red rail sign.
- There are two bridges over the railway.
- The Western bridge is for pedestrian access between the gate-line and the two platforms.
- There are steep staircases down to the two platforms.
- There is also a separate |Eastern bridge, which is to allow pedestrians, cyclists and dogs to cross the railway and access the coastal path, which runs South of the station.
Note too, that the station is very close to the sea.
Adding Step-Free Access At The Booking Office
I think that my pictures also flag up several problems of making the current pedestrian bridge step-free, either by complete replacement or the addition of lifts.
The Pedestrian Bridge At Station Has A Severe Case Of The Moths
Engineers and those that repair vehicle bodies, often refer to rust in steel structures as moth damage. The pedestrian bridge at Chalkwell station was built in 1933 and it appears to have suffered badly in the salty atmosphere close to the sea.
I do wonder, if a structural engineer has said that the bridge will need replacing within a few years.
It should be noted that the second bridge contains a lot more concrete, so this may be in less risk of collapse.
Would An Electric Lift Work Reliably In a Heavy Gale Blowing In From The Sea?
A knowledgeable station guy told me, that he believed the weather would stop a lift being installed on the seaward platform.
The Current Stairs Are Long And Very Steep
I managed them, but then I have a great advantage in that I’m only 61 Kg and can generally climb most stairs, even if I take it slower than some.
Is There Space To Add Lift Towers To The Current Pedestrian Bridge?
It might be possible by the Booking Office, but I suspect that there is not enough space on the seaward side.
The Pedestrian Bridge Would Be Difficult To Replace Whilst Keeping The Station Open
I think it would be nearly impossible to rebuild the bridge or replace it with a new one, whilst keeping the station open.
Why Not Replace Both Bridges?
It might be possible to replace the two bridges with a new single bridge in the position occdupied by the Eastern bridge, that is separate from the station.
But this would be very disruptive to both train passengers and to pedestrians wishing to cross the railway.
A Conclusion About Step-Free Access At The Booking Office
It will be difficult, if not impossible, to add step-free access to the station, whilst keeping it open to passengers, if step-free access is provided at the Booking Office.
Could A Separate Step-Free Bridge Be Built At The Western End Of Chalkwell Station?
This Google Map shows the Western end of the station.
Note that there is a steep slope up from the platform to the road that passes the station on the Northern side.
This picture was taken of the bridge at Maghull North station.
Note how there is a short bridge to the top of the cutting on the left hand side of the bridge.
- Could a similar arrangement be used at Chalkwell station?
- It should be possible to build a level path along the top of the slope.
- The path could connect into the Booking Office behind the gate-line.
I feel this approach would have several advantages.
During Installation Of The New Step-Free Bridge, Platform Access Would Be As Now
Passengers would not be inconvenienced, whilst the new bridge was being installed.
After Installation Of The New Step-Free Bridge, Passengers Would Enter The Station Through The Same Doors And Gate-line
How convenient, especially for occasional travellers, who might be confused by the new layout.
The New Bridge Could Be Placed In The Most Convenient Place
The new bridge could be placed in the best place for the passengers and the optimum place for train loading.
The New Bridge Could Be Built With Minimum Disruption To Services
There would be a big advantage in that the bridge could be built over a working railway, as was the one at Maghull North station.
After Installation Of The Bridge, There Would Be Two Routes To Each Platform
If it were to be decided that the old pedestrian bridge with its steep stairs were to be demolished, this could be done, at a safe and leisurely pace after the new bridge was deemed to be a good design.
But it may be decided to refurbish the old bridge to keep the two seperate routes.
The Winner Of The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition Could Be Used
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed at Chalkwell station?
An extension from the bridge on one side, would give access to the path to the Booking Office.
Could this bridge be slightly lower, than the current bridge? I suspect, this bridge has been designed so that 25 KVAC overhead electrification can be fixed to the underside of the bridge deck using insulated fittings. The reduced height would make climbing up slightly easier.
Southend East Station
The Current Station
These pictures show Southend East station.
This Google Map shows the station.
There would appear to be plenty of space, but where will the bridge be placed?
If they decided to use a bridge based on the competition winner could probably be placed on the Eastern end of the platforms.
Stoneleigh Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Stoneleigh station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current bridge,
By coincidence, I met the son of an old friend at the station, who lived nearby. He was able to give me a few extra details. Thanks Billy!
Abysmal Step-Free Access
I only exited the station on the Stoneleigh Broadway side and from the platform it was a two staircases up of about fifteen steps and then three similar staircases down.
- In this day and age that is totally unacceptable.
- As the station was only built in 1932, it shows the attitude of Southern Railway to passengers of reduced mobility! They are certainly not welcome!
- Billy told me, that the railway divides Stoneleigh in two and using the bridge to get across is difficult for a lot of people.
There must be very few worse step-free stations than Stoneleigh.
The Station Is Bad For Health, Environment And The Community
How many people, who live on one side of the railway and need to go to the other to see the doctor, visit the library, go to church, have a coffee with a friend or just go to a shop, are now forced to get into a car to make the trip.
Demolition Is The Only Answer
It may be a wonderful example of 1930s creative concrete construction, but for the modern age, it is complete crap!
Te station needs to be demolished and either confined to the landfill of history or turned into building blocks or other useful product.
Replacement With A Modern Bridge
The objective would be to provide a bridge, that gave step-free access to
- Station Approach on the Western side.
- The island platform.
- Stoneleigh Broadway on the Eastern side.
This Google Map shows an aerial view of the station.
Note the number of useful places on either side of the railway.
There is also a lot of space on either side of the railway.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed be installed at Stoneleigh station?
Consider.
- The bridge has been designed so it can built as a double span, so ir could serve both sides of the railway and the platform.
- The steps at the end can even be turned through ninety degrees, so that they lead into the Broadway and Approach.
- To create space, the life expired wooden buildings on the platform, that seem to be only held up, by courtesy of the woodworm holding hands, would need to be demolished.
This would allow, the new bridge to be built before closing the current monstrosity.
The station would be completed by providing a modern building on the platform, with staff and passenger facilities, that were appropriate to the million-plus passengers, who use the station every year.
Once the station is fully working, the 1930s station would be demolished.
Conclusion
Using Network Rail’s new footbridge design, a modern station could be created without closing the station to passengers and/or trains.
Stoneleigh could get a step-free modernstation i a matter of months, after planning permission was obtained.
In Syon Lane Station To Go Step-Free, I describe how Syon Lane station is getting a step-free bridge in five months.
Leatherhead Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Leatherhead station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current subway,
This is one of those stations, where lifts could probably be put into the subway.
But this would probably mean closing the subway, which is the main access between the platforms.
Look at this Google Map of the Northern end of the station.
The map illustrates another problem. There is car parking by the London-bound platform and commuters will need to cross the tracks.
But the map does show there is a lot of space and a step-free bridge might be possible at this end of the station.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
So could a factory-built bridge like this be installed be installed at Leatherhead station?
Queens Park Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Queens Park station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current access.
This is one station, where the Bakerloo Line and Watford DC Lines have fairly good step-free access between train and platform.
The following needs to be done.
- Provide lifts from both platforms to the booking hall and the gateline.
- Extra services to Blackpool may terminate at the station and this would mean adding step-free access to the main line platforms.
I feel the most difficult part of the project will be adding the step-free access, whilst keeping the station fully open.
Taplow Station – 3rd May 2019
I went to Reading today and on the way, I noticed that a step-free bridge was being erected at Taplow station.
So on the way back, I stopped and took some pictures.
I took this other set of pictures before Crossrail construction had started.
The old Victorian bridge has been scrapped Wikipedia says this.
The station is a popular location for railway photographers and enthusiasts owing to the secluded location, long views of track alignments and the low number of station users at off-peak times. When a special train is due, the footbridge and platforms will usually have a large number of photographers and enthusiasts along them. The original footbridge dating from 1884 was removed in totality in mid-2018, and replaced by a second temporary structure. The refurbishment of the lattice footbridge (damaged by railway contractors) appears to have been cancelled; a new footbridge with lifts at the London end of the station has started construction in autumn 2018.
I do hope that the designers of the new footbridge are providing a bridge with lots of space and good views.
I would have thought that the a double version of the winner of the Network Rail/RIBA competition could have been used.
It would appear to be more affordable for a start, but it probably wasn’t designed, when the contract was awarded.
Conclusion
I do think that there has been some bad decisions made concerning Taplow station.
The Problem Of Step-Free Access At South Acton Station
South Acton station would be one of two stations on the shared section of the North London Line and the proposed West London Orbital Railway.
It could be handling fourteen passenger trains per hour in both directions.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note how all the land close to the line has been sold to developers and new housing, now means space is very restricted.
This image shows a close-up of the bridge.
With a train stopping at the station every four minutes, a step-free means of crossing the line is essential.
The often-used solution of building a new step-free bridge and keeping the old one is not a solution at South Acton station, due to the space restrictions.
I suspect the current bridge could be replaced with a step-free one, but how do you provide a bridge whilst the new one is installed?
I went back to the station on May the 2nd and took these pictures.
It might just be possible to squeeze a bridge in at the North end of the station.
There is certainly enough space for a bridge tower on the Western side behind the fence and if space can be found on the other, a bridge might be possible.
What Is Happening At Acton Central Station?
On my way home today, I stopped off at Acton Central station to have a look.
This Google Map shows the station.
Note the level crossing and the partially demolished station building behind the hoarding.
The station could have a few problems in the future and may need partial rebuilding.
- The level crossing handles four trains per hour (tph) in both directions and there are plans to increase this frequency by two tph.
- The station is the changeover point between third-rail and overhead electrification.
- There is no step-free access between the two platforms.
But the biggest cause of future problems could be the West London Orbital Railway.
- This route will call at Acton Central station and it will have two services, each with four tph in both directions, giving a total of fourteen tph in each direction through the station.
- It is also likely that some passengers will want to change direction, so they will have to use the subway.
- The number of trains and passengers, may mean that a second entrance is needed on the Richmond-bound platform.
Could the work at Acton Central station be part of a solution?
Conclusion
It looks like it could be a second entrance is being created.
This might also make it easier for some passengers to change platforms and shut the level crossing.
Example Cost And Timescale For A Step-Free Footbridge
This article on Network Rail’s web site is entitled Investment In West Calder Gives Station Accessibility A Lift.
The project replaced an existing bridge.
- It cost £2.7 million.
- It took ten months to build and commission.
- Station access was maintained at all times.
It looks to have been a well-managed project.
This picture shows the bridge.
How would it compare with the recent winner of Network Rail’s competition to find a new footbridge design?
Having not seen either bridge in the metal, I’ll give my judgement when I have.
The Anonymous Widower 