Paddington H&C platforms

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

According to Transport Briefing, a second major Crossrail design contract has been let for Paddington station.

... involves drawing up detailed plans for a coordinated scheme for the
north side of Paddington station. This will include a new station entrance
fronting Paddington Basin, complete redevelopment of the Hammersmith and
City line Tube station, a new taxi facility and provision for an over-site
development.

Crossrail has awarded this latest design deal to accommodate the
significant increase in passenger demand predicted for Paddington station
and provide safe, smooth, step-free access through the station.

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/news/story?id=6165

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) many of the discussions about the 'teacup service' alterations
mentioned the poor quality of the H&C platforms for interchange purposes.  I
guess these proposed alterations to the overall station were already known
to LU's planners, and it is possible that part of the rationale for the
extended Circle service is to improve distribution of pax from Crossrail,
without needing to pass through the District/Circle station?

A couple of questions though, firstly why not do all the rebuilding first
and alter the service patterns later? Secondly, is the Network Rail 'Span 4'
work already integrated with this (apparently) new package?
 
Paul

[eightf48544]

As far as I know there has been a plan for extending  platforms 13/14 to the same place as platform 12. This would involve opening up access to that side of the station onto the canal basin. Hence the work on span 4.

If I remember correctly this didn't involve any changes to the H&C platforms, as their alingment is dependant on the link to Circle at Pread Street Junction.

One way of easing the overcrowding of the H&C platforms especialy if the T Cup brings more passengers to them is to repair and reopen the old Bishop Bridge footbridge which is still extant but blocked off except as an evacuation route. 

I am surprised this is being done under the Crossrail banner as they bring passengers wanting to change to IC^▸ (Inter City) trains to the Platform 1 side in Eastbourne Terrace. I thought the scheme predated the current Crossrail project.

[paul7575]

I suspect the work is being combined because Crossrail are having to relocate the taxi circulation onto the parcels deck (if I read other stuff right), with road access via Bishops Bridge Road on the north side of the bridge. If taxis are not at concourse level they'll need escaators and lifts etc.  Probably makes sense to sort out everything else underneath in the one contract?

Paul

[paul7575]

Slight update on this, I noticed in this Network Rail press release issued today:

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=4679&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=8

...that there is "...an exhibition at the station, which runs from Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 October, where passengers can find out about the project and other exciting improvements coming to Paddington in the future."

I wonder if there is anyone who is likely to be visiting Paddington over the next few days and could give some feedback , as the press release itself is pretty much lacking in detail about platform alterations, new entrances etc... 

Paul

[John R]

I walked past it today, but as I was with a colleague and in a hurry couldn't stop. (Presumably they meant September, not October).

[paul7575]

I walked past it today, but as I was with a colleague and in a hurry couldn't stop. (Presumably they meant September, not October).

That's odd, I didn't notice that, but the dates do fit this week. Weird...

Paul

[eightf48544]

It's there saw it last night. Not very interesting.