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.
Bridlington 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.
Bridlington station is on the list.
In Bridlington Station – 13th March 2019, I showed this picture, that I had taken on my visit.
The bridge connects the Northbound platform to the Southbound and bay platforms and the main part of the station.
This Google Map shows the location of the existing bridge clearly.
It should obviously be made step-free to make all three platforms easy to access for all travellers.
- Should the old bridge be totally replaced or should new lifts be added?
- Should the bridge be moved from its current position?
- Should the bridge be raised to allow for possible future electrification?
- Should a fsctory-build standard bridge with lifts be instaled in a different position?
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 Bridlington station?
I suspect that it could be fitted on the Western ends of the platforms, leaving the original bridge in place during construction to keep the station open.
After installation of the new bridge, the original bridge could be demolished, shut off or refurbished as appropriate.
Note that the town of Bridlington is getting a makeover.
- New and an increasing number of trains will be calling at Bridlington station to serve residents, commuters and visitors.
- A modern step-free bridge which welcomes travellers to the town or speeds them on their way, could be just the ticket.
I have a feeling this step-free bridge could deliver good value to Bridlington, the train operating companies and travellers to and from the town.
Stowmarket 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.
Stowmarket station is on the list.
In Roaming Around East Anglia – Stowmarket Station, I said this.
The station is Grade II Listed, has the capability to handle the long London-Norwich expresses and probably only needs a step-free footbridge to be ready for the East-West Rail Link.
This picture shows the bridge.
Step-free access would create an easy interchange between stations.
- On the Great East Main Line between Stowmarket and Norwich.
- On the East-West Rail Link between Stowmarket and Cambridge/Peterborough and further West.
Journeys like between Diss and Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Cambridge and Peterborough will be so much easier.
Greater Anglia is already planning to increase services on both routes, so the step-free bridge will be well used.
Installing Step-Free Access
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 Stowmarket station?
- I think this could be possible, if the existing bridge were to be removed.
- At least there is a level crossing by the station, which could be used as an emergency means of crossing the railway.
I very much favour this approach. which surely could be installed on a weekend possession.
Hackney Downs 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.
Hackney Downs station, which I use regularly is on the list.
In Is Hackney Downs Station A Suitable Case For Treatment?, I mused at the possibilities for the station, after a chance meeting with an architect, surveyor or planner from Transport for London at the station, who had just had a look behind the locked doors at the station.
Let’s hope that if there is something worth preserving behind those forbidding brick walls!
Other than the obvious step-free access, my ideas for the station would include.
- Better use of the rooms on the platforms.
- A couple of enclosed waiting rooms.
- Improved bus stop locations.
- A light-controlled crossing outside the station.
But the biggest opportunities would surely be opened up, if London Overground’s services were reorganised.
At present, the station has the following services in trains per hour (tph)
- Liverpool Street and Chesthunt – two tph
- Liverpool Street and Chingford – four tph
- Liverpool Street and Enfield Town – two tph
Plans also exist to increase the Enfield Town services to four tph.
These are not overly high frequency services compared to some services in London.
In Could London Overground Extend To Hertford East Station?, I speculated on a rumour that Hertford East services would be given to the London Overground.
If this does happen, I believe that some local services would have to terminate in the High Meads Loop under the Eastfield shopping centre at Stratford.
In the other post I say this.
If as I proposed the following trains run through Seven Sisters station.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt/Broxbourne or Hertford East.
- Two tph between Stratford and Cheshunt/Broxbourne or Hertford East.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town.
- Two tph between Stratford and Enfield Town.
This means that Hackney Downs would have the following services.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt/Broxbourne or Hertford East.
- Two tph between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town.
- Four tph between Liverpool Street and Chingford.
Would it not be more efficient, if all of these services used the slow tracks into Liverpool Street?
This would give the expresses exclusive use of the fast lines into Liverpool Street.
It’s probably a naive analysis, but I believe services at Hackney Downs station could well include regular services between Liverpool Street and Broxbourne/Hertford East.
Conclusion
Step-free access at Hackney Downs station could be part of a package, that sees extra services and destinations added to the station.
The Anonymous Widower 