The Connection Between The Northern And Lizzie Lines At Tottenham Court Road Station
In Elizabeth Line To Northern Line At Moorgate Station, I described how I was rather underwhelmed with the connection between the Bank branch of the Northern Line and the Lizzie Line.
It’s just too far to walk in the long tunnel, which is not as well fitted out as the connection to the Bakerloo Line at Paddington.
At least it can be improved, without a major amount of expense.
So what is the connection between the Lizzie Line and the Northern Line like at Tottenham Court Road?
There is access to stairs and a lift at the Southern end of the Northern Line platforms, that lead to the pedestrian tunnel between the two platforms of the Lizzie Line.
These pictures show the connection.
Note.
- It is certainly a lot easier than the connection at Moorgate.
- You have a choice of stairs or a lift between lines.
- Both Northern branches and both Southern branches of the Northern Line all have services through Tottenham Court Road station. Just make sure, that you get a Charing Cross branch train.
- If you’re using Tottenham Court Road station for changing to the Lizzie Line from the Northern Line, then make sure you get at the Southern end of the Northern train.
- If you’re using Tottenham Court Road station for changing to the Northern Line, then make sure you get at the Eastern end of the Lizzie Line train.
Practice will make perfect, how passengers handle this interchange.
Going Between Euston And Heathrow
There is no problem with the interchange to and from the Elizabeth Line, but getting to and from the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line is not step-free.
Hopefully, High Speed Two and the rebuilding of Euston station will solve this problem.
Passenger Behaviour On The Lizzie Line
The Elizabeth Line has been open for some weeks now and I am fairly certain it is true to say that I have yet to see any passenger behaviour, that even the most picky passenger would complain about.
I wonder, if this is partly down to the design of the stations, with wide platforms and passages and often two escalators in the direction passengers are travelling.
If you are not being jostled, as you are sometimes on the Underground, you’re surely less likely to react.
These pictures also show the wide entrances on the Central section.
Passengers do seem to get in and out without bumping into other.
Barry Station – 3rd August 2022
It was announced last week, that Barry station, now had a step-free bridge, so on my trip to Wales on Wednesday, I had to go and take a look.
It looks like the builders are still working on the site. However, the bridge was delivered early.
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.
The Anonymous Widower 