St. Erth 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.
St. Erth station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current bridge,
Note that the bridge is only used to access trains going West to Penzance.
This Google Map shows the station.
The three tracks from the station are as follows.
- To Penzance in a South-Westerly direction.
- To Plymouth in a North-Easterly direction.
- To St. Ives in a Northerly direction.
The bridge over the main line stands out in white in the bottom-left corner of the map.
Installing The Step-Free Access
As the station is Grade II Listed care must be taken in installing the step-free access.
- The current elderly steel bridge could be replaced with a modern one with lifts. This could be too drastic for the Heritage Lobby.
- But It does look that a modern bridge could be installed towards the Eastern 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 at St. Erth station?
This bridge has the great advantage, that it can be installed without closing the existing bridge.
Wandsworth Town 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.
Wandsworth Town station is on the list.
These pictures show the station.
The station would appear to need three Subway-to-Platform lifts.
I would feel that after seeing two similar lifts installed at Finsbury Park station recently, this can be done without too much disruption.
After Harry’s comments to this post, I went back to the station and took these pictures of Platform 1 and the outside of the station.
This Google Map shows Platform 1.
Installation of a lift would appear to be tricky.
- Platform 1 is not wide enough for a lift tower.
- To the left of the station entrance, there is a garden with a tree, which limits the space.
The best place is probably hard against the wall to the right of the station entrance, where the phone box is now!
- The platform entrance could be through a hole in the wall along the side of the platform
- The ground floor entrance could be inside the station entrance if this is feasible.
- If not, why not put it outside?
If the outside position were to be used on the ground floor, touch-in could be provided outside or even in the lift.
Thoughts On Kentish Town Station
Kentish Town station is not step-free, as these pictures show.
This Google Map shows the layout of the station.
Note the four platforms and two extra tracks on the Southern side.
But I do believe it is a station with potential.
An All-Electric Railway
In perhaps 2022 or a couple of years later, when the new bi-mode trains are delivered, between Kentish Town and St. Pancras stations will be an all-electric railway.
The Station Is In A Cutting
The station is in a cutting and given the price of land in the area and the demand for housing, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the whole station roofed over at some time in the future.
This couldn’t be done until the railway was all-electric.
Step-Free Access To National Rail Platforms
If the station was covered by development, I’m sure it would be possible to provide step-free access between the surface and the National Rail platforms.
Step-Free Access To Underground Platforms
This map from carto.metro.free.fr shows the lines at Kentish Town station.
Note how the Northern Line is at almost right angles to the Midland Main Line.
Providing step-free access might be easier from the area to the North of the current Undegrround station, which could be within any new development.
Some of the new techniques used on Crossrail might make a connection possible.
Kentish Town And West Hampstead Thameslink Stations
The next station to the North of Kentish Town is West Hampstead Thameslink.
Both stations have six tracks, but only four platforms.
It would probably be very advantageous if there were six tracks on the Midland Main Line along this very busy railway.
But this is impossible as the tunnels that lie between the two stations only have a total of four tracks.
I suspect that Network Rail’s engineers sometimes muse about what might have been, if the Victorians had built the extra tracks.
- Thameslink services could have their own separate tracks.
- Express services could be roaring through at 200 kph.
- The West London Orbital Railway could terminate at Kentish Town station.
But short of rebuilding the Midland Main Line between the two station and digging a lot of extra tunnels, these are impossible ideas.
Mill Hill Broadway 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.
Mill Hill Broadway station is on the list.
This Google Map shows the station.
I would suspect, that given the proximity to the M1, this station must have some of the highest pollution levels of any station in the UK.
These are some pictures I have taken of the station.
Note that there are stairs everywhere including in the subway.
Installing The Step-Free Access
I think adding step-free access to this 1960s monstrosity could be difficult and expensive.
Although, adding Subway-to-Platform lifts to the platforms should be a relatively simple process. Although, there might be a lot of heavy drilling of concrete.
Peckham Rye 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.
Peckham Rye station is on the list.
These are some pictures of Peckham Rye station.
This Google Map shows the complicated nature of the station.
I think making the station step-free will be rather a challenge.
Especially, as the station is Grade II Listed.
An Ungated Entrance Used To Create Step-Free Access At Crofton Park Station
Crofton Park station is not step-free and has the usual staiircases.
As I passed through today, I noticed that an ungated entrance had been used to create step-free access.
Passengers are expected to touch-in and out on the touch pads.
I suspect most do!
But it’s a clever idea to build an affordable step-free entrance.
I suspect this type of entrance might become more common in the Oyster-card area.
After all, there are several Overground stations without ticket gates.
Catford 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.
Catford station is on the list.
This pictures show the current state of Catford station.
Note.
- The railway line is on an embankment, with a bridge over the road.
- There are steep stairs to both platforms.
- There are small shelters on both platforms.
- There is a small station building by the subway under the tracks.
I suspect that a lift on either side of the tracks will need to be installed.
This Google Map shows the station.
It looks like it will be rather a tight squeeze to fit the lifts around the stairs and the current station building.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a rebuild of the current station building and the stairs, to create space for the lifts.
The route between Catford and Catford Bridge stations used to involve a walk along the A205, but now there is a level walk through a new housing development, which also has a small supermarket.
You enter Catford Bridge station, directly onto Platform 1.
This Google Map shows the two stations and the walking route between them.
I estimate that it is less than a hundred metres.
Adding step-free access at Catford station will not complete the project.
Look at these pictures of Catford Bridge station.
To cross the tracks at the station, there are two bridges; the road bridge and a footbridge at the station.
Neither of the bridges are step-free.
It would be difficult to add lifts at the A205 end of the station, as there is little space. It would also mean passengers would be walking along the A205, with all its traffic and associated pollution.
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 Catford Bridge station?
It could replace the existing metal bridge!
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.
- There is an up-escalator.
- A staircase,which is as wide as possible.
- There are three handrails with a low rail for those who prefer it.
- 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.
Cricklewood 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.
Cricklewood station is on the list.
This Google Map shows the platforms at Cricklewood station.
Note.
- There are three island platforms with two faces. Not all are used.
- Each island platform has a set of stairs to a subway.
- Two pairs of lines pass between the platforms.
- The fast lines are are the Western pair and the slow lines are the Eastern ones.
- Platforms are numbeeds from right to left.
- To the West of the Western platform, there are two freight lines, which might also be used for the West London Orbital Railway.
This map from carto.metro.free.fr shows the lines in detail.
Note how the freight lines are directly connected to the Dudding Hill Line, that goes off to the West, via the Cricklewood Curve.
These are a few pictures of the station.
Note that the subway and the station entrance appear to be iin good condition.
Installing Step-Free Access
This type of station with a subway under a series of platforms isn’t as common in the UK, as it is on the Continent.
But there are several examples in the UK, where this type of station has had Subway-to-Platform lifts installed. Examples can be seen at Finsbury Park and Stratford stations.
The West London Orbital Railway
The West London Orbital Railway may be built in the next few years.
One route could connect West Hampstead Thameslink and Hounslow stations and could have a stop at Cricklewood station.
This might mean that up to two extra platform faces would be needed at Cricklewood station, in which case provision must be made to extend the subway and add lifts to any new platforms.
An alternative could be to use bi-directional working between Cricklewood and West Hampstead stations.
- Only four trains per hour (tp[h) are planned to use the route.
- The distance between the two stations is only around a mile.
- Spare faces of existing platforms could be used at both stations.
- four tph can easily be handled in a terminal platform.
- No extra tracks would need to be laid.
It would certainly reduce the cost.
Conclusion
This is a relatively easy station to make step-free and it could also be made ready for the West London Orbital at the same time.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if to build, the West London Orbital, just needed the following.
- Finish step-free access at Cricklewood and Isleworth stations.
- Refurbish and update the track, signalling and points and crossings.
- Build a platform at West Hampstead Thameslink station.
- Build a platform at Houslow station.
- Open an initial service using battery-electric trains between West Hampstead Thameslink and Hounslow stations calling at Cricklewood, Acton Central, South Acton, Brentford, Syon Lane and Isleworth.
- Build the new intermediate stations.
Too often Network Rail’s project management is strung out over a long period, because they play far too safe and attempt not to spend any money!
Here boldness is possible, as there are no large sub-projects, except building the new stations, so they can be done afterwards by developers, who would like to build large numbers of flats with a station in the basement.
I believe that as the railway is there and working, once it has been refurbished and three important platforms have been added, battery-electric trains could start a service.
What better advertisement for your development, than to see the trains to the important hubs at Old Oak Common and West Hampstead, already running through the building site!
London needs more new rail services, more new and refurbished fully-accessible stations and a lot more housing!
So why not do them all as a partnership?
Anniesland 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.
Anniesland station is on the list.
The Services shown in Wikipedia are comprehensive and numerous considering that the station has just two through platforms and a bay platform.
These pictures are of the station.
This Google Map shows the layout of the station.
Note.
- The two main Glasgow stations are to the North.
- The two through platforms are numbered 1 and 2 and go under the footbridge in the middle of the image.
- The bay platform is to the North of the station building and is mainly served by a shuttle to Glasgow Queen Street station. I wrote about this shuttle in Anniesland And Glasgow Queen Street Via Maryhill In A Class 230 Train.
In Winner Announced In The Network Rail Footbridge Design Ideas Competition, I wrote how the competition was won by this bridge.
Could a factory-built bridge like this be used at Anniesland station?
I suspect it will be possible, but the site is rather cramped!
Conclusion
A step-free footbridge would make the lot of passengers changing between platforms 1 and 3 much better.
The Anonymous Widower 