Do Platform Layouts Diagrams exist?

[mokchuk]

Hi everyone,

I have a question on platform layouts. I am attempting to write a small software program which computes the quickest way out of a given tube station once you left the carriage.

What I'm looking for are diagrams of platforms like this one on wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Layout_of_South_Kensington_station_platforms.png

The program will compute the time it takes to get out of the station dependant on which carriage you are in once the train stops and the distance you are from the exit.

I was wondering if diagrams like the wikipedia example above exist for any other stations. I have contemplated doing the research on this myself, but I've heard that Tfl don't like people taking photos on platforms, plus it would be impractical to cover the entire network myself. I could make it all up, but then it ceases to be a simulation if I invent the data.

If anyone knows of place where I might be able to find something relevant, please let me know

Thanks in advance!

Michael

[Phil]

There is a map which I have seen, but not got, which tells you which car to get in to be at the exit point for any station. No idea where to find one now though, nor its official name.

[Colin]

I don't have an iPhone, but I do know you can get an 'app' for it which tells you which carriage is best for exiting at every LU station.

[Chris M]

Sept 24, 2009 21:57:17 GMT Phil said:

There is a map which I have seen, but not got, which tells you which car to get in to be at the exit point for any station. No idea where to find one now though, nor its official name.

I don't have a copy either, but I believe it is called the "Way Out Tube Map" or something like that. I know Annie Mole did a piece on her blog about it (probably a couple of years ago now though).

Also there is a useful website at www.directenquiries.com/londonunderground.aspx?tab=Underground%20Stations&level=1 that has details of all the routes between trains and exits and interchange routes at every station on the Underground. It is designed for people with limited mobility and gives details of slope gradient, number of steps (e.g. it will say 12-12-10 up for a flight of 34 steps with two intermediate landings), and alternative routes. It also has photos of most of the features.

[Deleted]

I have a copy of the way out map, its quite useful, but its errors and omissions make it very frustrating at times.

[Deleted]

Sept 25, 2009 0:19:45 GMT edgemaster said:

I have a copy of the way out map, its quite useful, but its errors and omissions make it very frustrating at times.

it is very frustrating i tryed it a couple of times and its not worked.

[Deleted]

I tried one with the NYC Subway once, you first selected line, then how long the train was, and at which station and in which direction you exited (I.E. 33rd street northbound), and would say what car, and what door (i.e. 2nd car, frontmost door on lefthand side). If there were multiple exits from the platform you could select which one you wanted to use.

[Ben]

There was once a book published which had the nearest car to exit and interchange. Small, possibly a7 size. Will have to digg it out!

[mokchuk]

EirikhO : That is quite similar to what I would like to create to the LU, although is sounds very similar to the iPhone app that Colin described.
Colin, do you know the name of that iPhone app?

Chris M, thanks for that site, it is very useful for my concept.

Everyone's help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[amershamsi]

Sept 25, 2009 16:45:46 GMT Ben said:

There was once a book published which had the nearest car to exit and interchange. Small, possibly a7 size. Will have to digg it out!

That's the way out map.

It's not the clearest thing in the world and rather limited in details, however it's about £2 and that's good value for what you are getting.

[Deleted]

In terms of tunnel diagrams, the London Connections blog did have excellent diagrams of the Bank/Monumnet and Green Park interchanges.

I have been idly considering creating similar diagrams for elsewhere on the network. I'm also pretty sure that some of the more public-transport minded folks from OpenStreetMap (especially those who want to attempt multi-modal navigation and routing) have been considering collecting such data for public transport in general. As yet, both myself and they have no data adequate for the purposes the OP is looking for, but that's likely to change in the upcoming months.

[Deleted]

The iphone app is called (rather imaginatively) Tube Exit!

[Deleted]

Shame the app isn't available for S60 phones yet, here's hoping there do it for other platforms too, I'd love to have it. I've already figured it out between Oxford Circus and Marylebone but nice to have the whole network

[londonstuff]

Tube Exit is really rather good and works very well for me. You can add interchanges, BR exits, etc. I recently went from Westminster to Ladbroke Grove via Baker Street. It told me where to get on at Westminster, which side the doors would open at Baker Street and also which carriage to get on at Baker Street to line up with the exit at LB. Very useful to save a few seconds, but you'd only really use it for stations you don't go to often. If you were a commuter, you'd soon know the best exit strategy, just as Diamond Geezer noted with good comic effect way back in 2004:


London Commuter Handbook: no 6904: Bow Road to Holborn

1) Enter Bow Road station as before, but don't bother picking up a newspaper because you won't be able to read it in the ensuing crush.

2) Pass left along the platform. Don't bother looking at the 'next train' indicator because you can catch any train going eastbound, not just a District line train. Walk just over halfway along the platform, stopping beside the Fire exit sign posted on the door in the blue wall.

3) Enter the first train that arrives. Hang around close to the door you entered through, because you'll be getting off through it again at the next station.

4) When the train arrives at Mile End station, disembark. Cross the platform, which should take all of five seconds - this is the world's easiest interchange. Wait for the next Central line train. If you're really lucky a Central Line train will already be standing there waiting with its doors gaping open. It will also be absolutely jam-packed full of people

5) Squeeze into the rear half of the third carriage. Find a space. If possible try to head across the carriage to stand beside the doors opposite. Do not 'move right on down the carriage' into the narrow gap between the seats. Hold onto something. Breathe in.

6) Prepare for even more people to attempt to cram into the carriage, especially at Bethnal Green and Bank where the third carriage halts adjacent to the platform entrance. Prepare for some people to exit the carriage, especially at Bank, St Paul's and Chancery Lane where commuters head to work in the City above. Use all of these station stops to try to edge even closer to the doors on the left hand side of the train.

7) When the train stops at Holborn station (which is the first station where the doors open on the left) shoot out through the doors onto the platform and into the tunnel opposite marked Way Out and Piccadilly Line. Smile, because a huge scrum is about to develop behind you as commuters who weren't in the third carriage queue to reach this particular exit.

8) Turn right, then ascend the short flight of stairs ahead of you. In ten seconds' time this will be a real bottleneck as people jam into the narrow passageway to try to exit the platform behind you, but right now you should be at the head of the queue. Turn right at the top of the stairs and almost immediately you'll find yourself at the bottom of the main escalators.

9) There are four escalators, the right-hand three of which operate as 'up' escalators during the morning rush hour. It's quickest to take the nearest, right-hand 'up' escalator. Prepare for a long climb of approximately 60 steps, but be brave and walk straight on up to the ticket hall above. It's a great way of keeping fit, if nothing else.

10) At the top of the escalator turn right and exit the station through the underused set of ticket barriers in front of you directly into High Holborn. If you've followed all the instructions properly you should be the first person from your train to exit the station. Just like I was yesterday. Congratulations.

[franknapo]

Sept 25, 2009 21:08:23 GMT londonstuff said:

2) Pass left along the platform. Don't bother looking at the 'next train' indicator because you can catch any train going eastbound, not just a District line train. Walk just over halfway along the platform, stopping beside the Fire exit sign posted on the door in the blue wall.

Does that mean travelling to Bromley- By Bow. And then changing platforms There to go back West. Because im sure Mile End is westbound ;D