Bakerloo Line at Paddington

[whole diary]

[NickB]

Morning,

I noticed a 'small print' note on the tube map this morning saying that the Bakerloo line will not be stopping at Paddington from April 2nd until August.

Can anyone confirm this, or know what is being done?  I guess its still early days but the publicity isn't good.
That's going to royally shaft my commute.  They did this for a couple of weeks in 2014(?) and the results were not good - 4 months is a nightmare.

[Ollie]

It's shown on tube map too, struggling to find a reason: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

I've asked on Twitter and will update when I get a reply.

[didcotdean]

Closure relates to construction of the interconnection with the Crossrail platforms.

[stuving]

It's a bit of an afterthought, not part of the Crossrail project but a separate "Paddington Bakerloo Line Link Project". Its a substantial bit of work, and let by London Underground to a Costain/Skanska JV. More words and pretty pictures here and here.

[NickB]

Interesting - thanks all.

[ChrisB]

No afterthought at all.

Was part of the plans shown to Customer Panels way back before Eastbourne Terrace was dug for the Crossrail platforms. The connection was shown then as going under the lawn, and we were informed that the Bakerloo stations were to shut for a period.

However, no sign of any mitigation yet, which IMO^▸ (in my opinion), needs the eastbound circle line to continue beyond Edgware Road to at least Moorgate. That would at least partially split the likely overcrowding of the eastbound H&C platform which isn't exactly very wide

[stuving]

No afterthought at all.

Was part of the plans shown to Customer Panels way back before Eastbourne Terrace was dug for the Crossrail platforms. The connection was shown then as going under the lawn, and we were informed that the Bakerloo stations were to shut for a period.

The original plan was dropped due to fears the Brunel train shed might fall down (from the inspector's report on the TWA application, dated December 2013):

3.11 This Order is required because it is not possible due to engineering  constraints to deliver the link within the limits of deviation contemplated in  the 2008 Act.  The 2008 Act scheme or the reference scheme was based on  a  shallow tunnel.  This scheme had to be discounted due to the predictions  of ground loss and significant settlement impact on the Grade 1 listed Brunel  Train  Shed and disruption of Network Rail operations and passenger flows  on the concourse , and critically due to the residual risk of the collapse of the  tunnel face and consequential risk to construction workers and the travelling  public. 
3.12 The preferred deep tunnel scheme was arrived at following a process of  Value Engineering .  Its  preferential features , and the  need to seek powers  through  the  Order because  the deep tunnel fell outside the limits of  deviation of the 2008 Act,  are set out in  Mr Judd^s  evidence .

So this new hole is, in that sense, an afterthought; with its own TWA order in February 2014. How much disruption the original plan would have caused is hard to say. Interestingly, other than the quoted comment about passengers in the main line station, the TWA inspector didn't include that kind of passenger disruption in his consideration of things that need mitigating.

[paul7575]

However, no sign of any mitigation yet, which IMO^▸ (in my opinion), needs the eastbound circle line to continue beyond Edgware Road to at least Moorgate.

Highly unlikely if not impossible, there are no paths for that to be done without cancelling the normal through trains off the Met beyond Baker St.

Paul

[TaplowGreen]

This will be absolutely horrendous for all those (myself included) who use the Bakerloo line from Paddington, there is no way that the already overcrowded H & C/Circle lines will be able to cope with the extra traffic on a daily basis.

Looks like they've had almost 2 years to plan, so what mitigation is going to be put in place for passengers? (or as stuving has suggested, maybe they haven't factored this in?

Anyone who has ever tried to get on the H & C/Circle when the Bakerloo has fallen over will know exactly what I mean - 6 months of this does not bear thinking about!

[ChrisB]

April to August = 6 months?

[TaplowGreen]

April to August = 6 months?

Sorry - I was using a faulty Network Rail abacus left over from their electrification project.

OK then 4 and a bit months - the more important question remains - what are the plans to mitigate the horrendous overcrowding which will be a by product of this closure?

[ChrisB]

However, no sign of any mitigation yet, which IMO^▸ (in my opinion), needs the eastbound circle line to continue beyond Edgware Road to at least Moorgate.

Highly unlikely if not impossible, there are no paths for that to be done without cancelling the normal through trains off the Met beyond Baker St.

Off-peak they certainly could. Maybe to Baker Street plats 5&6 then, reversing there? Most Bakerloo pax would be changing there onto that line anyway....

[Thatcham Crossing]

TG hasn't said where he's travelling to (by Tube from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)), but the 6-7 minute walk to the Central Line at Lancaster Gate is a good way to avoid the Circle/H&C if going east (as I often am) to the likes of the City (Bank/St Pauls) or Canary Wharf (Bank, then DLR^▸ (Docklands Light Railway))?

I often find the Circle/H&C really slow, as Edgware Road and Baker Street seem to be bottlenecks, due to junctions with other lines.

[Ollie]

Appreciate the replies listed here...Bakerloo Line got back to me on Twitter a few moments ago advising it's the Crossrail work but they're also doing some escalator refurbishment work too.

[NickB]

Appreciate the replies listed here...Bakerloo Line got back to me on Twitter a few moments ago advising it's the Crossrail work but they're also doing some escalator refurbishment work too.

Thanks ollie - did they say what arrangements they are going to make to help passengers make their onward journeys?