Crossrail/Elizabeth Line. From construction to operation - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[didcotdean]

The Victoria Line may have been able to have a few cross-platform exchanges but also has some very cramped stations and interchanges, possibly because it was built in a time of flat to declining passenger usage. Victoria station itself had dreadful interchange provision which is only now being addressed. Also little consideration was given to accessibility with the need to negotiate a number of stairs at many stations with no alternative being commonplace.

Since Crossrail and tube standards are so different I'm not sure that adjacent-platform interchanges would work as well anyway.

[Bmblbzzz]

I presume that even with adjacent platforms, there would be barriers to go through.

[ChrisB]

why?

[Noggin]

I can see Adonis' point, but the devil, as always is in the details with these things.

Sure, the Victoria line works very effectively at Oxford Street where you have a cross-tunnel connection to the Bakerloo, but Crossrail's trains are not the same, they are much longer and carry more people.

I suspect that even if you could physically put the tube and Crossrail platforms in close proximity, and there were no ticket barriers or other demarcations required, behavioural modelling would still suggest that you need a certain distance between Crossrail and tube platforms in order to allow a dispersal of passengers and avoid overwhelming tube platforms at peak times.

[paul7575]

The much touted example of Oxford Circus is only cross-platform between Victoria and Bakerloo, it doesn't apply to the Central.  I'm sure there's a complex proof of this, but you cannot ever provide cross platform interchange between more than two lines.     IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) they got lucky at Oxford St, because the Bakerloo platforms just happened to be outside the two running tunnels, but it isn't always like that.

At some stations such as Euston and Highbury & Islington,  cross platform interchange was achieved by building a parallel two platform station and then 'swapping lines over' so that one of the new Victoria lines ran through an existing platform and one of the existing lines ran through a new platform built by the Victoria line project.  Altering a tube platform to Crossrail length and gauge would have to result in an existing line being closed for a number of years.

Then there's simple alignment issues.   Crossrail 1 runs E/W and interfaces mostly with lines running N/S, and even if any of them were stations on only one line the new route would need sweeping curves.

Paul

[JayMac]

Seeing the building work at Tottenham Court Road recently, it looks like interchange between Northern, Central and Crossrail will be achieved in the circulating areas inside gatelines.

[Adelante_CCT]

From getreading:

A residents^ association in Caversham will be focusing on Crossrail at its annual meeting next week.

Caversham and District Residents^ Association (CADRA) will hear a talk from John Goldsmith on the rail project on Tuesday, April 26 at 7.30pm.

Mr Goldsmith, community relations manager for Crossrail, will share images of the construction work, discuss the benefits of the project and explain how the service will operate from Reading Station from December 2019.

Everyone is welcome to attend the annual meeting at Thameside School in Harley Road, Caversham, and can join CADRA on the day for ^3.

And from the official CADRA site:

[Chris from Nailsea]

From Rail Technology Magazine:

Unique designs for new Crossrail stations released

New images of the remodelled stations along the Elizabeth Line, as Crossrail will be named, have been released to the public.


Tottenham Court Road station entrance at Dean Street

The images, which are also featured in a free exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects, provide a new glimpse of the Elizabeth Line, which is now approximately 75% complete and is due to open in 2018.

It will feature 10 new stations and upgrades to 30 stations. The stations will be equipped with 250m platforms to accommodate longer trains.


Farringdon station - proposed platform

Julian Robinson, head of architecture at Crossrail Limited, said: ^The Crossrail project has worked with world-leading architects and designers to deliver a new railway that draws upon the fantastic transport architectural heritage of London and London Underground with each station reflecting the distinct character of the surrounding area and presenting a common line identity.^

Each new station^s underground parts will remain consistent with the rest of the Transport for London network, while the entrances are designed by different architects to reflect the character and history of the local area.

For example, the new Elizabeth Line station at Paddington will echo the design legacy of Brunel^s existing terminus building, while the new Farringdon station is inspired by the Barbican and the historic local trades of blacksmiths and goldsmiths.


Paddington station - proposed ticket hall

The designs are based on principles of identity, clarity, consistency, inclusivity, sustainability, security and people focus.

As part of the privately-funded Culture Line scheme, permanent works of art will also be installed in many of the central London stations.

Spencher Finch^s ^A Cloud Index^ will be embedded into Paddington Station^s glass canopy, while Turner Prize winning artists Douglas Gordon and Richard Wright will produce artworks at Tottenham Court Road, and Michal Rovner will produce a digital installation for Canary Wharf station.

The new edition of RTM^▸ ((and RTFM) Read The Manual!) features all the latest updates on Crossrail from Howard Smith, Crossrail operations director at Transport for London.

[ChrisB]

"Inspired by the Barbican"
Plain concrete surfaces everywhere then

[TaplowGreen]

"Inspired by the Barbican"
Plain concrete surfaces everywhere then

I am frequently inspired by The REAL Barbican, but then again I am from God's chosen town, the Capital City of the South West, Plymouth 

[Western Pathfinder]

Could have been worse might look like the Tricorn in Portsmouth .

[Chris from Nailsea]

I am frequently inspired by The REAL Barbican, but then again I am from God's chosen town, the Capital City of the South West, Plymouth 

Likewise.  The Barbican there offers the world the Jacka Bakery and Plymouth Gin, among other inspirations. 

[Bmblbzzz]

The images do at least have people in.

[IndustryInsider]

Details of the rebuilding of Acton Main Line station.  Perhaps it should now be renamed Acton Elizabeth Line?   

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/green-light-for-major-improvements-at-acton-main-line-station

[TonyK]

Likewise.  The Barbican there offers the world the Jacka Bakery and Plymouth Gin, among other inspirations. 

Did somebody say "Drink!"