There's a trial closure of the main footbridge throughout today (until 19:30) with the intention of monitoring passenger flows to see if the second footbridge can cope. Let's hope there's a problem meaning some trains have to stop on the down main platform so those monitoring the trial can see what effect that has.
Ha ha - the trial was a complete failure. There were so may passengers using the footbridge from 2/3 to 4 that Health & Safety had to restrict the numbers using it.
I still reckon that the quickest way to get from 2/3 to 1 is across the fast tracks. Since Network Rail suddenly switch platforms just imagine that the last Oxford advertised to arrive at 3 is seen to be arriving on 1. I've seen that many times over the years mainly at weekends.
What is needed is some input into the Crossrail redevelopment from actual users. The
FGW▸ Customer Panel is useless.
NR» remains aloof. Crossrail doesn't consult anyone but just goes ahead with demolition. NO-ONE asks the actual users.
I know, lets just close the station to passengers for the entire duration of the works - would make the lives of the people carrying out the improvement works a whole lot easier and would also prevent anyone from using your shortcut across the fast lines (good luck with that by the way!). Would that work better for you? Or maybe just leave it in the state it's currently in?
It sounds to me like a plan has been made for a much needed overhaul of this tired station in conjunction with the modifications required for electrification and that quite some effort is being put in to try to keep it open and usable throughout the works, I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time, eh?!
