Paddington Square redevelopment

[whole diary]

[KenB]

"205 with destination "Paddington" didn't actually call anywhere near Paddington"
Paddington was a borough, is still an area and not just a station.

[eightonedee]

Presentation on this at the Stakeholder's event in Paddington yesterday - looks very impressive (presentation, of course, designed to make a very positive show) and I look forward to it - but a note that Garfunkel's is still on the corner, and pride from the presenter in saying "and you can still use Garfunkel's.

Wow - another dose of nostalgia for yours truly. Back in the early- and mid 1980s I worked in the City, commuting daily from Tilehurst. As a result of a combination of circumstances I found myself in my late 20s running quite a large project for my then firm, catching an early HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service from Tilehurst and often returning on a late train from Paddington (yes - sometimes even breaking the "set down only" rule on the Night Riviera at Reading). Garfunkels was often where I had my evening meal on the way home. I did not even know it was still there!

In those days Paddington late in the evening was a hive of interesting activity - newspaper trains and travelling post office trains, with destinations all over Great Britain chalked on the outside and (if you glanced inside) on the sorting pigeon holes. I am pretty certain I remember "Kyle of Lochalsh" on one (but after 35 years the memory may be playing tricks!)

[grahame]

"205 with destination "Paddington" didn't actually call anywhere near Paddington"
Paddington was a borough, is still an area and not just a station.

Welcome to the form, KenB.

You have me there.  "The 205 with destination which I am familiar with to get to the main line railway station there didn't actually call ...."

It's a classic illustration where the established norm changes, and catches out a regular user / assumer.  I'm hoping we don't see too many assumptions come the timetable change in December, such as "All eastbound trains from Chippenham will call at Swindon".

[grahame]

"205 with destination "Paddington" didn't actually call anywhere near Paddington"
Paddington was a borough, is still an area and not just a station.

From Network Rail - https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/travel-safer-and-quicker-at-paddington-station-as-new-entranceexit-opens on 16th July

Travel safer and quicker at Paddington station as new entrance/exit opens

Passengers at London Paddington are now benefitting from quicker and safer travel through the station after Network Rail opened a new entrance/ exit this week as part of their commitment to keep passengers travelling safely. 

It will improve the flow of passengers, reduce travelling time through the station and help maintain social distancing.

The new access is located near platform one, next to Sainsbury’s and the ticket office, and opens onto Eastbourne Terrace, where new paving has been laid and CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) has also been installed.

There have been no entrances or exits on that side of the station since 2011, when it was was closed to allow construction work for Crossrail to take place.

The 205 bus is still missing out the front of Paddington so thank goodness the station now has a gap in what looked like defensive barrier on the South West side!    Clearly of more use than just to people using the 205!

[eightonedee]

"New" access!? This is just going back to where things were before the access to Eastbourne Terrace was closed obliging everyone to use the Praed Street access. 

[IndustryInsider]

"New" access!? This is just going back to where things were before the access to Eastbourne Terrace was closed obliging everyone to use the Praed Street access. 

You get a good look at the new Crossrail section of the station from it - unfinished still, but looking impressive.  Presumably (re)opening it paves the way to temporarily close the Praed Street ramp exit/entrance for redevelopment?  The first section of wall has now been demolished.

[grahame]

"New" access!? This is just going back to where things were before the access to Eastbourne Terrace was closed obliging everyone to use the Praed Street access. 

The dictionary has multiple definitions of new:

produced, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time; not existing before.
"the new Madonna album"

already existing but seen, experienced, or acquired recently or now for the first time.
"the new Isle of Wight trains"

beginning anew and in a transformed way.
"the new capacity of a double decker bus is ..."

[REVUpminster]

I am glad that is open now as it makes the walk to Lancaster Gate station a little quicker and less congested.  Always go that way to get to Stratford and the way Crossrail is going I'll be doing it for some time.

[IndustryInsider]

The ramp up to Praed Street now looks quite different with the big brick wall gone.

[Ralph Ayres]

Still the welcoming committee of smokers by the look of it. That really does make that entrance rather unpleasant in contrast to all the beautiful people (and glorious weather!) in the promotional video.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, but presumably when the area is opened out later in the development the smokers will be able to spread out much more?