Visited the station today and took a "few" pics:
This is the entrance to the walking route from the South side.
FGW▸ worker on hand to offer assistance.
Turn left and the stairs and ramps down to the subway open up. First impression is that the quality of finish is excellent. For example, the top of the walls are capped with a timber cladding - looks really superb.
View down the ramp nearest the new south side building. Again, the quality of finish is excellent. The brick wall and stainless steel finishes are striking. Just hope they have applied a coat of grafitti resistant stuff!
Entrance to the subway on the south side. It is very well lit and the brick/tile work is of a high standard. Also noticed lots of
CCTV▸ cameras.
Inside the subway. Its very long! Lights are continuous at a high level along the the left hand side. Plenty of CCTV.
On the north side the walking route passes though the construction yard. There is a manned crossing point for works vehicles.
View from the Car Park across the north side construction site, with the walking route cutting though it. I timed the walk from the bottom of the lifts to the station entrance on the south side and, at my leisurely pace, it took about six mins. So suggesting an allowance of 15mins is reasonably conservative. I met four FGW staff acting as marshalls.
View from the car park to the now closed section of the bridge. Demolition signs up and men at work inside.
Level 9 of the car park, showing the boarded off entrance to the footbridge. No one will miss this!
Back to the main station now and the staircase from the concourse to the overbridge, which has been closed off.
View of the overbridge with the partition removed. Huge improvement!
The north end of the footbridge where the "Vastern Road" gateline used to be, now boarded off. Closure of the walking route across the bridge has done wonders for revenue protection. So many of the loopholes have been closed. The only way out of the station is through the main gateline. I saw half a dozen revenue protection staff having an absolute field day at the gateline!
And finally, a view of the first electrification gantry to be erected over the new platforms. The metalwork at both ends is to stop silly people from climbing up on to the canopy roof and out along the gantry, where they might kill themselves. Shame!
Overall impression is of a job well done. If the rest of the build is to the same standard, it will be a magnificent station.
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