A Walk Around Barnes Bridge – 28th July 2022
After writing A New Garden Bridge Proposed For London, I had to go and visit.
So I went this afternoon and took these pictures.
After arrival at Barnes Bridge station, I walked along the river had a drink in a pub before retracing my steps and taking a train back to Waterloo.
These are my observations and thoughts.
Access To The Country-Bound Platform
The access is not good at present, as it is up and down a steep set of steps.
But it does appear that there is space to improve things.
In A New Garden Bridge Proposed For London, I indicated that it might be possible to connect the platform directly to the new garden bridge. That certainly looks possible and I suspect that a lift could be incorporated.
The Walkway On The Downstream Side Of The Bridge
This walkway was being used by walkers and cyclists.
It is connected to the London-bound platform, by means of two sets of stairs.
I Walked Along The Bank Of The River To A Pub
All I needed was a drink and I got one.
If you walk the other way, there is an excellent Rick Stein restaurant.
Access To The London-Bound Platform
The access is better than to the other platform, but it needs improvement.
Conclusion
I believe that a good architect could squeeze in step-free access to both platforms and have good connections to the proposed garden bridge and the existing walkway.
A New Garden Bridge Proposed For London
This article on Ian Visits is entitled Plans Open A Disused Railway Bridge To Pedestrians.
This is the introductory paragraph.
A section of the Thames with few bridges could become a lot easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross if plans to convert a disused railway bridge for pedestrian use go ahead.
The disused railway bridge to be used is the original 1849 Barnes Railway Bridge, which was closed to trains, when a new stronger bridge was built alongside in 1890.
This Google Map shows the two bridges.
Note.
- The railway tracks in the centre on the 1890 three-arch bridge.
- The Thames flows from South-West to North-East under the bridge.
- A walkway on the North-Eastern side of the is still in use.
- The original 1849 bridge is on the South-Western side of the bridge.
The pedestrian garden bridge will be built on the 1849 bridge, which will be refurbished.
This second Google Map shows the bridge and Barnes Bridge station.
Note.
- Barnes Bridge in the North-West corner of the map.
- Barnes Bridge station in the South-East corner of the map.
Part of the plan envisages connecting the South-Western platform to the pedestrian garden bridge.
It looks a plan with a lot of good possibilities.
The Project
It appears that Network Rail, the London Boroughs of Richmond and Hounslow are all supportive and Moxon Architects have been appointed to the project.
The project now appears to be called The View at Barnes Bridge and it has an impressive web site, with lots of information and pictures.
I have a few thoughts.
I Am Not Surprised That Network Rail Are Supportive
Network Rail must be pleased to be getting a Grade II Listed structure off their hands.
Could Barnes Bridge Station Be Made Step-Free?
I suspect that Moxon will produce designs for this and it will probably be a question of money, if they are implemented.
But as the garden bridge will attract more visitors, this will surely increase the need for full step-free access at Barnes Bridge station.
Could A Refurbished Bridge Carry Utilities?
I suspect that this will be looked at, as it could be a nice little earner.
Could This Project Be An Example Of a Levelling-Up Project?
In my travels around the UK and Europe, I’ve seen several disused railway bridges that could be reused as footbridges to provide walking and cycling.
Many are being converted, but this high-profile bridge could inspire architects to create other worthwhile bridges.
Minding The Gap – Barking Style
There are several ways of minding the gap between the train floor and the platform on railway systems.
- There’s the simple get the geometry right method used on the Elizabeth Line, parts of the London Overground and some other routes.
- There’s Stadler’s method where a gap filler comes out from the train.
But I’d never seen, this simplemethod that is used at Barking Riverside station on the London Overground.
Note the rubber strip, where all the doors on the train are by the platform.
This is a simple device and I’ve never seen it before.
But according to this article on Rail Technology Magazine, it has been in use on Heathrow Express for a year.
The devices are Australian and come from a company called Delkor Rail.
A First Trip To Barking Riverside Station
I took a first trip to Barking Riverside station this morning and took these pictures.
I have a few thoughts and observations.
Platforms 16 and 17 At Liverpool Street Station – 2nd July 2022
On my way to Ilford station today, I used the Elizabeth Line at a not too busy time from Liverpool Street station.
Note.
- Platform 18 has been closed.
- Platform 16 is to the left and Platform 17 is to the right.
- Platforms 16 and 17 have been lengthened.
- The can now handle the full nine-car Class 345 trains.
- There is a wide walkway on the far side of Platform 17.
I have a few thoughts.
Why Is The Access Between Train And Platform Not Level?
This picture shows level access on the central section of the Elizabeth Line at Whitechapel station.
Why wasn’t the platform height adjusted to fit the trains in the rebuilt platforms 16 and 17 at Liverpool Street station?
Are There Any Plans For The Walkway Behind Platform 17?
Consider.
- At the other end of the station concourse, there is a walkway alongside Platform 1, that leads in and out of the station.
- There is also a walking route out between the two sections of the station.
A walkway behind Platform 17 could be possible.
Station Redevelopment
This article on Ian Visits is entitled Liverpool Street Station Plans For A £1.5 billion Redevelopment.
This is the first paragraph.
Initial plans have been revealed for a £1.55 billion redevelopment of Liverpool Street station that would see it become a two-level station with a much larger entrance built next to the tube station.
As the station is surrounded by a large cluster of skyscrapers, I will assume there will be another one.
Despite Brexit, Covid-19 and the War in Ukraine, there still seems to be an appetite for new office space in London.
Dartford Station – June 27th 2022
I took these pictures as I passed through Dartford station yesterday.
Note.
- Dartford station is close to the town centre.
- I grabbed a coffee in the nearby shopping centre.
- The station has four platforms.
- The station has full step-free access.
The station was rebuilt in 2013.
Stone Crossing Station – June 27th 2022
I changed trains yesterday at Stone Crossing station and took these pictures.
Note.
- It is a basic station with two long platforms.
- There is a bridge at one end.
- More houses are being built nearby, behind the trees.
It needs upgrading to the Twentieth Century.
A Second Visit To Stone Crossing Station
As I wanted to look at the footbridge, I went back again today.
This looks very much like an interim design to get passengers and pedestrians across the line safety.
A Crossrail To Ebbsfleet Station
This station will need to be made step-free, if Crossrail is extended to Ebbsfleet station.
The station will be handling ten trains per hour (tph) in both directions.
Northfleet Station – June 27th 2022
This Google Map shows Northfleet station.
Note.
- The two tracks through the station are the North Kent Line.
- The other two tracks are freight sidings.
- The car-parks at Ebbsfleet station are in the South-West corner of the map.
- There appears to be a large cleared site to the North-West of the station.
These pictures show the station.
Northfleet station is best characterised by a series of negatives.
- No step-free access from street-to-platform.
- No step-free access from platform-to-train.
- No train information on the London-bound platform.
- No toilets.
- No ticket office.
- No staff
- Not enough seats.
- Not enough car parking.
- Not enough trains.
The only thing that is ready for Crossrail are the long platforms, which will take a 240 metre long train.
A Crossrail To Ebbsfleet Station
This station will need to be made step-free, if Crossrail is extended to Ebbsfleet station.
The station will be handling ten trains per hour (tph) in both directions, with 4 tph terminating at the station.
I suspect new platforms will be built to accommodate the terminating trains.
Swanscombe Station – June 27th 2022
I went to Swanscombe station today and took these pictures.
Note.
- The station is just two long platforms with steps down from the road, that goes across the bridge, that is shown in the pictures.
- Whilst I was at the station, a couple had great difficulty bringing a baby in a buggy down the stairs on the Eastbound platform.
This Google Map shows the station in detail.
This station is a real insult to anybody with reduced mobility.
A Second Visit To Swanscombe Station
As it was so bad, I went back again today.
As it’s Tennis Time – You Cannot Be Serious!!
A Crossrail To Ebbsfleet Station
This station will need to be made step-free, if Crossrail is extended to Ebbsfleet station.
The station will be handling ten trains per hour (tph) in both directions.
Elizabeth/Central Line Interchange At Stratford – 23rd June 2022
During the rail strike yesterday, it was a good time to show how the interchange between the Elizabeth and Central Lines at Stratford station.
Note.
- I took these photographs from the London-bound platform.
- Platform 3 is the Central Line platform on the Southern side.
- Platform 3A is a second platform face to allow boarding of Central Line trains from both sides.
- Platform 5 is the Elizabeth Line platform on the Northern side.
- To the North of this pair of platforms, there is a second pair for Essex bound trains.
- Platform 6 is the Central Line platform on the Southern side.
- Platform 8 is the Elizabeth Line platform on the Northern side.
Due to the strike I only saw one Elizabeth Line train in the time I was there and I took that to Liverpool Street station.
Step-Free Access Between Train And Platform
These four pictures show the step between trains and platforms at the stations.
The step is bigger on the Elizabeth Line, but both sides could be improved.
This Is An Important Interchange
These two cross-platform changes at Stratford station form an important interchange on the Elizabeth Line and when the Elizabeth Line is fully operational, they will have the following trains.
- Elizabeth Line – Peak – 16 tph
- Elizabeth Line – Off-Peak – 12 tph
- Central Line – Peak – 35 tph
- Central Line – Off-Peak – 24 tph
Note.
- tph is trains per hour.
- These two double-sided platforms will be very busy.
- In the Peak, a train will arrive every seventy seconds.
I believe that this interchange will effectively make the Central Line stations, that are North-West of Stratford, a virtual extension of the Elizabeth Line.
A side-effect could be a rise in house prices near any of those Central Line stations.
Conclusion
This very important interchange, between the Underground and National Rail services was actually opened in October 1946.
It is surprising to me, that we don’t have more interchanges like this in the UK, between local and long-distance rail services.
The Anonymous Widower 