Great Western Coffee Shop

After 15 years, a small part of Paddington's Span 4 'crash deck' has been removed following the ongoing ^35m refurbishment works.  Suddenly, and almost surrealy, part of Platform 9 is now bathed in natural light again, revealing the re-glazed and repainted roof above.

Here's a couple of poor quality snaps taken on my iPhone:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5375445452_9eab156171.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5375445238_bd0087d2a6.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5374845489_57578629b3.jpg)

for an I-phone i think the photos are very good. Anyway it would be great to be able to photograph the Heathrow connect  class 360 & First Great Western class 165/166's in  light rather than the  gloom

I saw this post earlier and intended to take a look when I got to Paddington on my way home..  I failed to remember it would be dark by then  ::).. Monday morning though.. It'll be nice to be slightly less gloomy in there  ;D

About 80% of the crash deck had now been removed, although quite a lot of scaffolding still remains - still supporting the OLE in some places.  Platforms 9-12 look totally different bathed in daylight now though, and I'm looking forward to the completion of the scheme later in the year.

Walking from Platform 14 in the morning, you can really see the detail on the bottom of the arches. Looks really good.

Anyone know what they're going to do with the ramp that goes onto platforms 10/11?

Here's a couple of snaps to show the latest extend of the Span 4 refurbishment - with a proper camera this time...

Viewed from Platform 10 looking towards Reading

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/5797883142_0fa27816d3_b.jpg)

Viewed from Platform 11 looking towards Reading

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5797884406_5d9cf6f721_b.jpg)

Viewed from Platform 11 looking towards the area still to be finished - note the difference in light levels!

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/5797885564_c637557423_b.jpg)

Yesterday I walked from the London end of platform 12 to platform 13 as the Greenford departed from 12 I looked across to platform 10 and wow  
Most of the "Railtrack" scaffold towers that have blighted the forth arch of the station for about 15 years have gone the view across the new limestone paving and the new paint work of the forth arch is really impressive, well worth the ^20 plus million

I think theres already a thread on this? Wasnt it discussed some weeks ago?

That's what I thought but could not find it

Yeah I was sat on a train waiting to pull out of platform 10 yesterday.. And  I realised that not only  could I see platform 11.. but how much distance there was between the two.. And how light it all was... ;D

I've now merged both topics here. Chris.  ;)

Just saw this question as a result of the thread being resurrected.  :(

The ramp you mention is still shown on the planning drawings concerning the new taxi rank and the new H&C station. 

One of the drawings that explains the operation of the new taxi rank labels it as a 'buggy ramp' - perhaps for those staff operated assistance buggies?

Paul

Just want to add my congradulations to the engineers - it looks stunning! Can't wait for all the works to be properly finished. Will there be a official opening of the 4th span? If so they should get 5043 down from Tysley or better still 6023 on her maiden main line run?

What n soot up all that nice new paint  ;D  Would be something special to see though with a rake of chocolate n cream coaches :D

Last few times I have been to Paddington I have only been over at the Platform 1 side.

This afternoon I returned to  Paddington on the H&C line.  Coming down the steps onto Platform 8, I was struck by the sense of space to my left. What a difference I was disorientated for a moment. 

As I caught the 16:30 from Platform 10 I had my first amble up Platform 9/10 since the Scaffolding came down.  I had not realised how wide it is.  There is room for another two platforms in there if you could get then through the throat.

 

I, too was at Paddington this afternoon. Nice to grab a swift half in The Isambard with natural light flooding in and no banging and crashing going on overhead!

Now, when I find that pesky USB lead for my camera I'll upload some of the pics I took of the 4th Span.....

Also removed was a couple of temporary cabins by the stairs to the subway originally placed for the GPO in the early 80's the other thing that gives the impression of more space is the overall French limestone paving which has replaced the bitumen and the roadway layout
This was Railtrack's intention to have achieved it span 4 would have been raised to the ground

Yes but...

Walking along platform 12 on Tuesday, I was not so impressed by the large number of buckets, old litter bins and the like that had been deployed to catch the rain where it comes in through the roof.

Platform 12 isn't really under span 4, but under what I think will become the new taxi rank. Either way it leaks. Badly.

Yes, Platform 12 is partly under the new taxi rank and partly under the strangely named London Street.  Major works continue there in preparation for the new taxi rank and northern entrance (and the new H&C Line station), so there will be leaks, noise and barricades for some time to come.

I believe (from planning stuff downloaded earlier) that the straight part of the track bed of platforms 11 and 12 is actually aligned with the original London St - which as built was a parallel ramp alongside the present arrivals side approach ramp - it would have provided access to the early goods yard.  The current 'dog leg' alignment of London St just outside the station boundary - the reason for the cut off corner of span 4, dates from around 1910 or so, building a deck over the southern end of P11 and P12 allowed for a continuation of London St over the new platforms.

Hence the 'London St deck', which eventually became known as the Red Star deck, when the parcels shed was built, demolished as part of the current works.  The deck wasn't all built at once though, there's a number of phases to the structures in that area.

Paul

Continuing my tradition of providing some before and after shots of major works in the region, here's 4 comparisons of Paddington station's Span 4 refurbishment works.  Before shots are what the public saw, with little or no variation, for the last 15 years, and they are compared with the current views.

The difference, I'm sure you'll agree, is incredible!



1)  View along platforms 9 and 10 from behind the buffer stops.  Note the new left luggage and lost property building replacing the facilities on Platform 12

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6424852909_2546b793de_b.jpg)


2)  View along platforms 11 and 12 from behind the buffer stops.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6424859409_07d347881f_b.jpg)


3)  View along platforms 10/11/12 from the end of platform 12.

(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6044/6424871075_baf0d2bb79_b.jpg)


4)  View along platforms 9 and 10 taken from western end of Span 4.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6424865369_039714a967_b.jpg)

Thanks for the photos II - it's almost unrecognizable now, at least to someone who hasn't been to Paddington in over a year!

Thank you for posting those pics. Certainly changed since I was last there back earlier this year

When I was last there a couple of weeks back it struck me that the original idea of a ramp for taxis down onto the arrival platform was a very uneconomical use of the space available. 

The surface area enclosed under span 4 really ought to allow for at least two more reasonable length platforms - yet I expect if it came to a relevant planning application there'd be those who would object to the removal of the 'historic ramp' for little more reason than 'because they can'...  ::)

Paul

I seem to recall that this area under the hoarding (Is it called Span 4? I can't remember) was targeted by Ken Livingstone as Mayor. He wanted to demolish it, put up a skyscraper with new platforms underneath and possibly move the H+C platforms down to the concourse area. One or more of the bodies that advise on listing issues (English Heritage?) decided that they had no problem with that because it was a later addition to the station and was not as architecturally important.

Alighting from a train on a Saturday evening recently I was struck by just how impressive it is visually now when illuminated and how dark and dismal the main station roof is. Suggests to me that Ken got it wrong. Perhaps it's time for 15 years of scaffolding to clean and better illuminate the rest of the station!  ;)

I am not sure that Ken Livingstone wanted to demolish it and put a skyscraper up, I do know that was Railtrack's plan principally to generate cash by selling the air space.  Platform space at Paddington will be come less of an issue with Crossrail as most of the TV locals will be Crossrail.

The hoardings along Platform 12 have now come down, revealing the new gateline and escalators leading to the taxi rank and, eventually, new northern entrance.  Platform 12 suddenly looks spacious and modern!  The new taxi rank opens this Sunday.

Nuts! For the first time in over a year I passed through Paddington on Saturday but was in a hurry to make a tight-ish connection from Marylebone so didn't have a chance to take a look at the north side of the station. Oh well, next time I suppose ::)

Not sure you would have seen much on Saturday, Plat 12 would have been closed while they did the reveal

Plat 12 does look smart a far cry form the day when I was on the ODM at Padd and did maintence of battery trucks down there

ODM?

Was there once a branch of Kenya's Orange Democratic Movement at Paddington?  :P ;) ;D

 ;D  Good one, BNM!

ODM = Outdoor Machinery.  Doesn't everyone know that?

No, I didn't!

Neither did I. Wouldn't have asked otherwise!  ;)

Sorry, it was my attempt at ironic humour.  "ODM" was a commonly used abbrevaition with the old CH&EE (Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer) organisations which of course disappeared with British Railways in 1996.  So unless you had worked in the CM&EE or wanted a lift, battery tractor etc fixed prior to 1996 you wouldn't ever have heard of ODM.  So I would have expected very few FGW Coffee Shop users to know what ODM stood for - hence my comment - gettit?

Perhaps I should stick to toilet humour like BNM!!

Quite correct there were ODM's all over the country, we did look after (some people disputed this  ::) ) lifts, cranes, trucks, boilers, station, depots & offices lighting, standby generator sets for signaling, high voltage networks at large stations and depots .............

Some used to say when we turned up to "maintain" something Oh Dear Me  ;D
A lot of varied work not only maintaining the above and more but also electrical installation

I saw the escalators and new barriers on Friday. I had no idea that the hoardings were hiding this. I assumed it was some sort of store room for construction materials.

I don't quite see how you access the taxi rank from the concourse unless you go through the ticket barriers on Platform 11 then exit through the barriers on platform 12. Or do you use the footbridge?

Incidentally I'm not sure if the search function is working properly. I couldn't remember where to find this thread so searched for "platform 12". Lots of results which appear to be in date order but this thread was not one of them. It might be now because of the quotes in my reply though.

The 'search' function on the forum does work, but it's board specific: if you want to search the whole forum, you need to be in the home page to start - otherwise, it will only search the particular board you're reading at the time.

Hope this helps. C.  :)

I think the plans for the area have the existing barriers repositioned further from the adjacent coffee shop, they'll only be the route to platform 11.  There'll be some sort of 'glass fence' separating the area at the foot of the escalators from the platform 12 paid area, and the platform 12 gateline will be further along that platform.

...I've found the planning application drawing now:

http://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/files/FAB9C43FECEBBB75D84285B3BFE679F9/pdf/10_06129_XRPS-PROPOSED_SITE_PLAN-1959097.pdf

I've attached a 'snipped section' of the planning drawing, in case that link doesn't work forever:

Paul

In the meantime there's free access to platform 12 as no barrier is yet in place.  Until that, the new platform 12 gateline is currently useless!

The whole area has now been opened up nicely though and looks great.  Although a longer walk for most passengers wanting a taxi, the new rank is more spacious than the old one and seemed to be working reasonably well when I took a quick look today - though I'm not sure how traffic will flow on the busy Bishop's Bridge Road now that both arriving and departing taxis have to use it.

Here's some pictures:

PLATFORM 12:  VIEW OF ESCALATORS & STEPS

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6869787763_7ae682606b_z.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6869783883_fa46799486_z.jpg)


PLATFORM 12:  VIEW OF GATELINE & LIFTS

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6869793469_fe9afce29e_z.jpg)


NEW TAXI PICK-UP POINT:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6869790609_2482c0dafd_z.jpg)

What's the capacity of the lifts, though?   One of the great things about the old arrangement was the ability to walk on the level from an arriving train to a taxi with very heavy wheeled bags.   Will it cope with a long distance express coming in on a Sunday afternoon - you know the sort of thing where it was hard to even squeeze on at Chippenham, and baggage is overflowing the racks and the staff locker in coach A, and everyone makes for the rank?

I'll take a proper look when I get chance, though as a glance this morning there were two of them and both looked quite large.

I think many people with wheeled cases will just use the escalators.  Seems to be the normal practice at Reading anyway...

They'll probably be what is described as 16 person lifts - but I don't think that necessarily includes modern luggage...   ::)

Paul

Or even possibly, just 16 'modern' persons. What with ever expanding waistlines....  ;D

This will wee wee off anyone in a rush wanting to get on a Greenford from the concourse


I believe there is a ramp being (re)built from BBR to the Taxi rank it goes over the top of the H & C North ticket hall ............. all full circle really so Taxi's

The ramp (through the H&C station) must be complete - the new taxi rank would be completely inaccessible otherwise...

Paul

Something I'm not quite clear on- the new escalators provide access to the Hammersmith and City platforms as well, but I can't make out what the route will be to them, and whether this will help reduce the pedestrian congestion on the way to those platforms.

Not yet, access to 15/16 is still across the old bridge with the access to 10/11 and 13/14

The paved area of the new taxi deck extends all the way along to what will eventually be the foyer of the H&C station, with steps leading up (under the taxi ramp)  to the canal side entrance.  It isn't the only route to the H&C station though - the existing pedestrian bridge from the top of the ramp between P8 and P9 will also lead to the H&C station, providing a route through the centre of the station, ie under span 3.  

The existing footbridge leading to the H&C platforms will change to being a paid area giving access to NR platforms only, and it will also give access to the H&C 'foyer'.   So to get from say P14 to P15 you'll go through two barrier lines.  (This separates the LU paid area from the main station - which inter alia closes an easy entry into LU for those who don't like paying.)  

I'll attach an extract from the design and access statement which should allow you to get your bearings:

Paul

Thanks, that's very helpful. I'll have a nose round next time I'm passing through.

This morning while changing trains at Reading there was a notice on one of the monitors regarding a new gateline coming in on Friday 9 march, any ideas? I've not seen any obvious work going on.

A new gateline at Paddington? Only one way to find out... I'll ask Jo on Twitter...

Jo, with lightning speed replied:
I do now have a picture from Jo too (the gates look all new and shiny), I'm just waiting or permission to post it. :)

New Gates
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oBBoLPbuMjA/T1cxbHkY4RI/AAAAAAAAAjA/FeVHjwCc6jY/s640/photo.JPG)
New Escalators
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Kq7L9fBkZjI/T1c0HAL8ZMI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/l1VE8-Yu51Q/s640/photo%2520%25281%2529.JPG)

Ahh so that people can access the taxi rank without having to go through the barriers?

That's right.  Not finished yet as a screen running along platform 12 still needs to be installed as the barriers currently don't act as a barrier to anything.  It was discussed here:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8302.30 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8302.30)

Thanks, IndustryInsider.

Purely in the interests of clarity and continuity, I've now merged the two topics here.  ;)

I had the misfortune to be dropped off in the new taxi rank yesterday evening.. It's an even longer trawl round the houses to get to it than the old one was when you get one of those taxi drivers who won't just drop you off near Paddington (Praed Street for example).. He made me miss my train so I had to wait 40 minutes for the next..

What I did notice though, and it was quite late so there weren't many other people around, was that when I got  dropped off.. it wasn't obvious which way to go at first.. In fact the whole path appeared to be barriered off from the road so some workmen had to let me through to the path and then point me in the right direction..

On the rare occasions I catch a cab to Paddington I usually ask to be dropped off at the front entrance to the Hilton. Then I just walk straight through the hotel foyer and out onto 'The Lawn'.  ;)

The platform 12 barrier line was working this afternoon, with a temporary 'wall' where the glass screen will be, down alongside the escalators, and nearly to the end of P12.  The whole area between the escalators and the cash machines on the corner (ie behind where the left luggage used to be) is still being seriously knocked about, which will result in a much wider area for circulation.

I also noticed they've shifted the P12 2-5 car stop marker back down the platform by a couple of carriage lengths, one of the staff mentioned that trains longer than 5 car will continue to run through to near the buffers.

Paul

The gable end screen at the country end of the fourth span looks particularly impressive when lit up in the evening:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/102_0356.jpg)

As it all comes together I predict that the one remaining 'Yuk factor' about the station will be the 'direct' surface route from the end of P12 to the P13/P14 island - haven't seen any evidence so far that it will be altered at all.

I always think it looks as though it was a complete afterthought, designed by the only bloke who happened to have a biro and empty fag packet with him on the day...

Paul

The link at platform level between 12 and 13/14 was originally built for parcels tractors and BRUTEs and was not intended for public use other than disabled passengers escorted by staff.  The link allowed for the decommissioning of the lifts on 8/9 and 13/14 which had rather ancient 1920 exposed contactor (control) panels in the lift motor room it was interesting working on those as a young electrician  :o

Hopefully when the Hot n Cold new concourse is complete the whole area of the over-bridge between 8/9, 10/11 and 13/13 and the link between 12 and 13/14 and the platforms themselves will get a makeover

Hopefully, but I can't find anything live on Westminster's planning site so far. The only detail I can find is that there will be a direct access from the footbridge through a barrier line in the direction of the new LU station concourse, ie it will be extended past the current stairs to P15/16, the LU platforms. 

The present wooden covered lift shafts are therefore (from what you describe) completely redundant and could be removed anytime thereby clearing platform clutter, (assuming no listed building complaints), and presumably the old LU ticket office (presently used as an enquiry desk) will also be completely redundant and removable?

I also have my doubts about that other external (public) footbridge's condition.  The canopy over it is completely out of touch with the surroundings IMHO...

Paul

It's a proposed Control Period 5 enhancement to enhance the footbridge according to the Initial Industry Plan as published by Network Rail:

CP5 output driver
To reduce the passenger congestion at Paddington station through the construction of an
enhanced overbridge at the country end of the station to improve passenger flows to / from the
mainline station, taxi rank , Crossrail station and London Underground.

Scope of works
An enhancement to the passenger footbridges at the country end of Paddington station to
improve the flows and reduce congestion to / from the Underground, Crossrail, Taxi deck and
mainline station.

That seems a good idea, and I see they have a price range of up to ^M 9.4,  :o  so hopefully not a bodge job.

The current requirement to allow for public access (ie unpaid side) must cause all sorts of difficulties with those various routes.  Maybe the whole idea of whether or not there should still be public access across the station at the end of the main sheds (ie spans 1-3) should be re-appraised as part of the scope?

Paul

The new H&C station is starting to take shape.  Here's a snap from last week which is already out of date as more glazing panels have now been installed.  A shame it couldn't have been completed in time for the Olympics as the steps and overbridge are going to be under even more strain than usual.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7208734674_bfac7de2bd_z.jpg)

Saw H&C station building today looks impressive. The pattern in the glass matches the tracery in the ends of the main station roof.  Poster says new ticket hall opening at the end of June.

 

I was going to correct myself on what I posted a couple of days ago having read the same poster, though it read to me the new station entrance and two sets of steps are opening at the end of June, and that the new ticket hall, lifts and a further set of steps won't be completed until next spring?

Come to this a bit late I thought that as part at least of teh original plans paltforms 13/14 were going to be extended to line up with 11 and 12 thus the bridge becomes irrelevant or has that been shelved?

On the link itself has any noticed that Paddington seems to have been served by Thompson B1s?

I've only heard that P13 and P12 will be remodelled as one long platform, however the footbridge is getting quite a lot of work done to adapt it for the current changes, whereby it will provide a link from P10-P14, via a new gateline, into the unpaid side of the new H&C ticket hall, as per the attachment to my earlier post #48.

Can't see any logical reason why that wouldn't still be used, unless of course the package described in Industryinsider's post #64 makes it redundant?

Paul

Now I recall the wording - you are correct -  It is indeed the new entrance and steps for the end of June. It should be a welcome releif for the overcrowing on the current steps. 

The new steps and gateline/concourse for the H&C Line platforms opened this morning.  This means the access to Platforms 15 & 16 has now changed and is via the old taxi approach road bridge (the current route out of the station from the overbridge towards Paddington Central), or via the taxi rank and down the escalator and lifts to Platform 12. 

The new northern entrance looked bright and airy with plenty of space to move about and a wide gateline when I had a quick gander earlier on - though it will still resemble a building site until fully completed next year.  The flow of passengers should be much better to and from Platforms 13-16 now, but beware that, temporarily at least, the quick dash between 15/16 and 13/14 is no longer possible as the old steps to 15/16 is now closed.

When is the map of Paddington at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/PAD/plan.html (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/PAD/plan.html) going to be updated?

It still has taxis on the south side of the station, along with entrances and exits - yet alone today's changes.

The H&C station continues to be modified with the third and last set of steps opening a month or two ago, so three sets of dedicated steps rather than just the one.  The northern entrance is now complete, so it's just the lifts to be opened (there didn't use to be any lifts) and I believe a ticket office?

Here's a picture of the new northern entrance, which, for once, bears a striking resemblance to the artist's impressions:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/9465918530_f934908c9e_z.jpg)

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/images/station-designs/paddington-station (http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/images/station-designs/paddington-station)

I see that despite all the previous discussions on the subject, and the extracts from planning drawings already posted, that they have now decided not to have the direct link towards the H&C concourse off the old footbridge.  The latest plans show an LU equipment room or something being installed...

Perhaps the eventual plans for the redesign of the entire country end footbridge have overtaken previous ideas?

Paul

If that is true that is a bit of pain.. It's quite a much longer walk now than it used to be.. It was the only good thing about arriving at platforms 13 and 14 if you wanted to get on that line..

Looked like some semi-permanent doors had been installed last time I checked, so yes it looks like they're not to be returned to public use any time soon.  That is a shame.  As Paul says though, if millions of pounds is going to be spent over the next few years replacing that whole overbridge, and if the long held ambition of extending Platform 12 so that it takes over Platform 13 happens, it might not have been worth doing anyway.

The lift down to the Hammersmith & City Line platforms (15/16) and the enquiry office in the new underground station concourse have both now been brought into use.  Still a few cosmetic finishing touches to add, but now step free access is available for the first time.  Good news.  Now, let's replace the overbridge to the rest of the platforms with a wider facility including lifts to all platforms...  :)

Now that is going full circle, when I was an apprentice and then a young electrician on Paddington ODM in the late 70's I used to maintain lifts from Platform 8, 10/11 and 13/14 to the over bridge ..............

Spose its called progress  ;D

Early works to clean up spans 1 - 3 look to have started