The New Kings Cross Starts to Appear
I took these pictures today and they show how the new Kings Cross station is starting to appear.
There is more about what is going on here.
The Labyrinth That Is Kings Cross
Kings Cross St.Pancras is not a very passenger friendly tube station.
They have put in two new Underground ticket halls in the past few years; one in front of St. Pancras station and one between Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations.
Sometimes I arrive at Kings Cross on say the Northern or Victoria lines and want to get out on Euston Road. Often I fail and end up at the back of the station, when I want the front. So I have a long walk along crowded corridors to get to where I originally wanted. Sometimes, I have to brave the waiting area at the front of the station, which is a pedestrian’s nightmare.
Waiting at Kings Cross
This picture was taken today, but it shows how people and masses of baggage seem to turn up an hour or so before their train leaves and just block the space. Hopefully, when they finish the station, people will wait in a better place. Also, as I said here, I do wish they’d give you a series of alerts about your train, so you could wait say in Starbucks with a coffee in comfort. After all if Transport for London can do it for buses with a simple text, Network Rail can do it for individual trains, especially, if you ask for it when you buy the ticket on-line.
92 Clubs – Week 7 – 5 Clubs – 9 Trains, 1 Tram
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
Day 43 Day 44 Day 45 Day 46 Day 47 Day 48
So it’s all done now!
As there was only five clubs, the highlights of the week are thin on the ground.
Best Signposted Stadium of the Week
Wimbledon was the easiest to find, as I just got on a bus and waited until, Kingsmeadow was announced. It is one of only a few stadia, which are announced on the buses. Only London stadia can be announced on buses and a few are, although others have their own stations.
Worst Signposted Stadium of the Week
This has to be a joint award to Wycombe and Yeovil. I hardly saw a sign to any of the grounds, that would help a walker or a driver.
Most Surprising Town of the Week
Wolverhampton surprised me. The ground is fairly close to the centre and easily walkable from either the station or the tram. There’s even an underpass under the busy ring road connecting the ground to the town centre. Quite a few grounds need these. surely, they mean that fans can get a meal or a drink in the centre before or after the match. I seem to remember seeing a report, that the proximity of Portman Road to Ipswich town centre, was worth millions a year to the town.
Dump of the Week
I know Yeovil has evolved over time and totally sold itself to the car, but surely they could do much better. I would be repeating myself endlessly, if I added to what I said on Day 48.
The Fightback Against Cable Theft Has Begun
Last night there was a debate in the House of Lords about the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester said this, whilst proposing two amendments to deal with scrap metal theft.
As an indication of what we are up against, I would draw your Lordships’ attention to a giant screen advertisement at West Ham United’s football ground,which was seen on 27 September and which, I believe is there on a regular basis. It says, in huge letters, “We want your scrap for cash”, followed by three exclamation marks. All that was missing were the three words “No questions asked”.
So what was the evidence on the 27th of September? The picture is shown here.
92 Clubs – Day 48 – Yeovil
They say you should leave the best to last, but this was not a case of that. But with Yeovil, it was much a case of saving the worst to last.
The only good bit was going to the town on a High Speed Diesel Train changing at Castle Cary for Yeovil Pen Mill.
Before I left, I looked up their web site to see how you get to the ground from the station. My eyes aren’t good, but look at this page, which gives directions to the ground. Trains, buses and walking aren’t even mentioned. So I sent the club an e-mail and of course they didn’t bother to reply. They don’t appear from the site to run a match-day bus either!
When I arrived at the station, I walked to the town centre, along a pleasant path in a country park, but once in the centre, despite plenty of signs to it, I couldn’t find the tourist information centre. I think when I did, it wasn’t signed and it was closed.
So in the end I took a taxi to the ground and got the driver to drop me at the station on the way back. I think we saw just one sign to the ground and that was when you could actually see Huish Park. So I just took a picture and retreated.
Huish Park, Yeovil
The only trouble was I had to wait ninety minutes for the train. But at least the station was worth seeing from an architectural point of view and had been well restored.
I was back at Paddington just before 16:30 to complete my odyssey.
In my travels, I have not found a town or football club with so little information for vistors. I shall not be going again. I certainly won’t have to look far for my dump of the week.
Birmingham Moor Street Station
Of all the stations, I have visited on my trip, Birmingham Moor Street is one of the best. It is not a modern steel and glass c reation, but a well-refurbished station with a 1930s theme. Just look at these seats.
Seats At Moor Street Station
It is also home to the cosmetically-restored 2-8-0 steam engine, GWR 2885.
GWR 2885 at Moor Street Station
More of these engines should be displayed at stations, just like Locomotion No.1 used to be at Darlington. The story of that is described here.
It has been a very good restoration of a station, which has won awards according to Wikipedia.
Refurbished in 1930s style, the station has reproduction lamps, clock, seating, and signage. The renovation won the Railway Heritage Trust award for 2004 and The Birmingham Civic Society’s Renaissance Award for 2005.
I doubt the Dyson hand-dryers in the Gents are original though.
Please Adjust Your Dress
The sign may well be original though.
92 Clubs – A Small Difficulty With Ticketing
I tried to buy my ticket to Yeovil this morning, but there appeared tobe a problem with all of the rail ticketing web sites. So I had to book later in the afternoon.
The outcome was that my ticket to Yeovil appeared to be more expensive than usual. But try proving it!
I have just looked at the prices of the same trains for the rest of the month.
It doesn’t appear to be the cheapest route, compared to some I’ve sampled in my challenge.
92 Clubs – Day 47 – A Day Off
Hopefully, I’ll finish tomorrow, with a trip to Yeovil.
Today though, I’ve done my washing and also got some shopping in.
92 Clubs – Day 46 – Wolverhampton, Wycombe
I started just after lunchtime by taking the 13:23 Virgin Train to Wolverhampton. From there it wasn’t the longest walk to Molineux, where Wolverhampton Wanderers play.
Outside Molineux Stadium
After visiting the ground, I took the short walk to the city centre and then on to the tram for Birmingham.
The Tram Arrives at Snow Hill
From the tram stop at Snow Hill, I finally found the badly-signposted walking route to Moor Street, where I caught the direct train to High Wycombe.
Adam's Park in the Dark
It was dark by now and this was best picture I could get of Adam’s Park, where Wycombe play.
On the way home the train stopping at Wembley Stadium.
Wembley Stadium at Night
I could have probably gone to the England Sweden match.
92 Clubs – Day 45 – A Day Off
I had to visit the doctor for my Warfarin check, so I took the day off.
Perhaps, I’m slacking, but I only have three more clubs to visit.
The Anonymous Widower 