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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2009 16:13:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2009 17:30:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2009 17:02:22 GMT
Very spacious! Quite an improvement. Looong walks for Victoria Line users though!!!
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Post by 21146 on Nov 30, 2009 1:20:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2009 23:21:51 GMT
Functional, clinical, austere. Very efficient air-con: freezing air blowing through both concourse levels and all the subway tunnels. Publicity-shy: no signage from any of the platforms.
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Post by ruislip on Dec 1, 2009 3:47:11 GMT
Very Jubilee-esque.
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Post by 21146 on Dec 1, 2009 19:50:19 GMT
Well, it lasted all of 2 days... Today a GM berated one of my colleagues for referring to the "Northern" ticket hall at KXSP. Apparently it's actually the "North" ticket hall, to avoid the expectation that this entrance is convenient for the Northern Line, which it isn't. So, did I and others get it wrong all along? A quick search of the LU intranet showed almost all references had been subtly amended on the quiet, even down to internal bulletins, the original name airbrushed out of history, soviet-style; but my photo of the commemorative plaque - and the MD's online "blog" - confirms that is was "Northern", and had been all through the planning and construction process. www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/4144959518/ |
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Post by North End on Dec 1, 2009 20:34:24 GMT
Well, it lasted all of 2 days... Today a GM berated one of my colleagues for referring to the "Northern" ticket hall at KXSP. Apparently it's actually the "North" ticket hall, to avoid the expectation that this entrance is convenient for the Northern Line, which it isn't. So, did I and others get it wrong all along? A quick search of the LU intranet showed almost all references had been subtly amended on the quiet, even down to internal bulletins, the original name airbrushed out of history, soviet-style; but my photo of the commemorative plaque - and the MD's online "blog" - confirms that is was "Northern", and had been all through the planning and construction process. www.flickr.com/photos/24772733@N05/4144959518/Certainly is convenient for the Northern Line. I managed my fastest ever journey to work yesterday morning - straight off a mainline train which had arrived in the suburban platforms, down the escalators, and up to Golders Green. Think I saw one other passenger during all of that, shame it won't stay like that! |
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Post by 21146 on Dec 1, 2009 21:16:40 GMT
I do find this rather odd. Clearly if I arrived at Euston Road and wanted the Northern Line, it would be quickest to use the old "Tube" ticket hall, then down two sets of escalators; rather than go all the way along the new corridor to the "Northern/North" ticket hall, then down another two sets of 'scators. Point is, these names "Tube, Northern, Western" are not used in customer-facing signage anyway, so what's the problem?
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Oracle
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Post by Oracle on Dec 1, 2009 21:33:45 GMT
May I respectfully suggest that a copy of the plaque shot be printed off and sent to the GM accordingly? Do my eyes deceive but is that plaque black? Black is of course the Northern Line colour..so it might be thought by the man on the Clapham Common omnibus that this was further confirmation that it was for the benefit of that line's passengers.
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Post by 21146 on Dec 1, 2009 21:45:58 GMT
I did indeed print it off but I'm afraid didn't have the nerve to send it to the said gentleman! I'm sure there are other anomalies. How about lines named after individual stations? Does that confuse? Do people presume that you can only get a Victoria Line train to Victoria, or a Piccadilly Line to Piccadilly Circus?
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Oracle
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RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
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Post by Oracle on Dec 1, 2009 22:01:57 GMT
Of course! Overseas visitors particularly in my experience over 40 years! That said when the Vic opened, it had a terminus at Victoria!
As an aside, the fact that the proof in the pudding has been posted, I am sure that the gentleman will shortly be disabused of his misdirection.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2009 0:57:27 GMT
Point is, these names "Tube, Northern, Western" are not used in customer-facing signage anyway, so what's the problem? I agree - from the platforms this new ticket hall is described as the 'Regent's Canal' way out. The Tube ticket hall is described as the 'Euston Road' way out, with the old Thameslink exit being 'Pentonville Road' way out. One point of confusion is that the illuminated 'Way Out' signs pointing to the Pentonville Road exit was rarely turned off when the exit was closed - cue people wandering around in the Pic-Vic 'smile' tunnel wondering how to get out, having just seen the way out sign that was closest to them. I noticed on Sunday that the Pentonville Road way out sign in the passage from the new Piccadilly escalators towards the Victoria line was illuminated, so I hope this can be sorted out soon. I wonder if the passage from the Tube ticket hall to the Northern ticket hall will acquire an appropriate nickname to go with the Khyber Pass on the other side of the station? I'm sure the name Khyber Pass has actually been used in some of the customer information leaflets during the redevelopment! |
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Post by memorex on Dec 2, 2009 8:35:40 GMT
I wonder if the passage from the Tube ticket hall to the Northern ticket hall will acquire an appropriate nickname to go with the Khyber Pass on the other side of the station? I'm sure the name Khyber Pass has actually been used in some of the customer information leaflets during the redevelopment! I'd love to see Khyber used on leaflets, I'd then have an argumeant for them to use the names for other corridors - such as 'dogleg' and 'pee alley'  ;D |
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Post by North End on Dec 2, 2009 11:40:58 GMT
Point is, these names "Tube, Northern, Western" are not used in customer-facing signage anyway, so what's the problem? I agree - from the platforms this new ticket hall is described as the 'Regent's Canal' way out. The Tube ticket hall is described as the 'Euston Road' way out, with the old Thameslink exit being 'Pentonville Road' way out. One point of confusion is that the illuminated 'Way Out' signs pointing to the Pentonville Road exit was rarely turned off when the exit was closed - cue people wandering around in the Pic-Vic 'smile' tunnel wondering how to get out, having just seen the way out sign that was closest to them. I noticed on Sunday that the Pentonville Road way out sign in the passage from the new Piccadilly escalators towards the Victoria line was illuminated, so I hope this can be sorted out soon. I wonder if the passage from the Tube ticket hall to the Northern ticket hall will acquire an appropriate nickname to go with the Khyber Pass on the other side of the station? I'm sure the name Khyber Pass has actually been used in some of the customer information leaflets during the redevelopment! I'm not entirely sure the "Regent's Canal" signage is entirely appropriate. I've also noticed a lot of people hanging around on the Northern Line platforms wondering which Way Out to use. Hopefully things will settle down as familiarity breeds in. But I get the feeling that for some time there are going to be mainline passengers using the wrong exit -- especially as the Northern ticket hall is convenient for KX Platforms 8-11 (great for regular users who know where their train normally leaves from!), but not for Platforms 1-7. |
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Post by citysig on Dec 2, 2009 13:00:13 GMT
But I get the feeling that for some time there are going to be mainline passengers using the wrong exit -- especially as the Northern ticket hall is convenient for KX Platforms 8-11 (great for regular users who know where their train normally leaves from!), but not for Platforms 1-7. It's actually platforms 1-8 and 9-11, but that's only because I use the place every day. One thing that is never certain, no matter how regular the traveller, is which platform trains will depart from (I'm talking in terms of FCC and Hull Trains journeys.) One decent item which used to adorn the walls of the old passageways, but has been forgotten on the new, is a display telling people the platform their service is leaving from. This will help everyone decide which exit to use. But so far for me (a very regular traveller) this week has seen me enter the underground from the entrance close to platforms 9-11 and leave it at the entrance inside the mainline station adjacent to platform 8. One thing that has struck me about the new area is how quiet it seems compared to the rest of the station. I have been passing through at around 1330 and back again around 2100, so I'm not sure if it gets a lot busier in the peaks. |
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Post by North End on Dec 2, 2009 13:16:04 GMT
But I get the feeling that for some time there are going to be mainline passengers using the wrong exit -- especially as the Northern ticket hall is convenient for KX Platforms 8-11 (great for regular users who know where their train normally leaves from!), but not for Platforms 1-7. It's actually platforms 1-8 and 9-11, but that's only because I use the place every day. One thing that is never certain, no matter how regular the traveller, is which platform trains will depart from (I'm talking in terms of FCC and Hull Trains journeys.) One decent item which used to adorn the walls of the old passageways, but has been forgotten on the new, is a display telling people the platform their service is leaving from. This will help everyone decide which exit to use. But so far for me (a very regular traveller) this week has seen me enter the underground from the entrance close to platforms 9-11 and leave it at the entrance inside the mainline station adjacent to platform 8. One thing that has struck me about the new area is how quiet it seems compared to the rest of the station. I have been passing through at around 1330 and back again around 2100, so I'm not sure if it gets a lot busier in the peaks. The new ticket hall is also convenient for Platform 8 thanks to the entrance half-way along the platform, much better than having to negotiate the Tube ticket hall and then the mainline concourse. Before the Summer timetable started I made a list of all the FCC departures from KX, what they're formed of, the incoming service and the departure platform. I'd say it holds true for 80% of occasions, and even when last-minute changes are made it's comparatively rare IME for the revised platform to be too far from the booked one. Apart from weekends and evenings, I never need to consult the departure board, but instead just head to the booked platform, and very rarely get caught out. I've certainly found the new ticket hall to be very quiet indeed - nice isn't it?! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2009 17:51:44 GMT
From observation with FCC, the all stations services tend to go from 9-11, the fast Cambridge/ Peterborough tend to go from 6,7 or 8.
A personal annoyance of mine is the arrival in the morning onto Platform 9. Not only the walk to the tube BUT the queue for the gateline. Although this morning we did arrive on 3.
Haven't seen the North ticket hall but as I'm spare tomorrow will have slightly longer to have a peek.
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Post by citysig on Dec 2, 2009 19:30:46 GMT
Monday evening the 2052 Cambridge went from 9A. Last night it went from 6. But yes I tend to agree trains will often go from regular platforms. Off-peak especially it is fairly easy to guess which train will form the outgoing one. The fast Cambridges tend to stay self-contained with the odd one swapping to form a xx.52 service. The xx.15(ish) / xx45(ish) slow arrivals generally form the xx.36 / xx.06 slow services respectively. And that leaves the xx.00(ish) / xx.30(ish) arrivals to form the xx.22 / xx.52 respectively (apart from the odd swap with Cambridge fasts.)
In 21 years I've never had the good fortune to place my bets on the platform. I work for a railway. I have a keen interest in the railway. I like to think I know how things work. But even I don't trust my judgment against that of the signaller at King's Cross ;D
One unfortunate regular is the 2152 going from 11A. I'm normally tight for time. It's generally raining. And at least now with the passageway I don't have to walk passed the near-empty platforms 1-8 ;D
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Post by North End on Dec 2, 2009 19:57:10 GMT
Monday evening the 2052 Cambridge went from 9A. Last night it went from 6. But yes I tend to agree trains will often go from regular platforms. Off-peak especially it is fairly easy to guess which train will form the outgoing one. The fast Cambridges tend to stay self-contained with the odd one swapping to form a xx.52 service. The xx.15(ish) / xx45(ish) slow arrivals generally form the xx.36 / xx.06 slow services respectively. And that leaves the xx.00(ish) / xx.30(ish) arrivals to form the xx.22 / xx.52 respectively (apart from the odd swap with Cambridge fasts.) In 21 years I've never had the good fortune to place my bets on the platform. I work for a railway. I have a keen interest in the railway. I like to think I know how things work. But even I don't trust my judgment against that of the signaller at King's Cross ;D One unfortunate regular is the 2152 going from 11A. I'm normally tight for time. It's generally raining. And at least now with the passageway I don't have to walk passed the near-empty platforms 1-8 ;D 2052 booked from 6F, front 4 of an empty arrival from Royston. 2152 booked from 11F, formed from 1T96 2130 from Kings Lynn. Of course from 13th December there will no doubt be some minor changes to things..  |
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Post by citysig on Dec 2, 2009 22:08:54 GMT
Not sure if it's (all) currently leaf-fall related or if much will change. Not much appears to have changed for the new timetable.
The lack of drivers lately has moved a few things around of course (I think that was the reason on Monday, given a couple of in/outgoing services were cancelled). The late-night shutdowns north of Cambridge often alter things, with the 2152 then normally being formed of 8 cars and normally leaving from 6 or 7. Shame that can't be done when Arsenal are at home.
Back on thread, WAGN, FCC and the NR signallers are a decent bunch on the whole, and you can more or less predict platforms, but as I said, unless there was a display underground, I still won't hedge my bets and exit where I "think" the train will be ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2009 23:04:18 GMT
Had the opportunity to use the new ticket hall and passageways this weekend. KX is much improved as a result. No more crowding and you can walk between the two mainline stations without getting wet... I also noticed that it offers very good access for platforms 8-11 at KX. The platforms underground also seem to be much cooler, but we'll have to wait for a hot summer's day to really test that theory.
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Post by citysig on Dec 7, 2009 23:52:54 GMT
No more crowding and you can walk between the two mainline stations without getting wet... This is something I noticed the other night. From arriving at my national rail station en-route to work, to arriving back at it after work, I can actually travel fully sheltered, and be more or less oblivious to the actual weather. The small 5 second or so burst of sunshine/rain walking from the mainline concourse to the underground entrance is now a thing of the past ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2009 13:25:01 GMT
Has anyone got, or got a link to a map/diagram of the Kings Cross tube station layout with street exits please?
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Post by abe on Dec 27, 2009 19:05:05 GMT
Here you go. The street entrances aren't named, but are shown with roundels. The shaded areas for the main-line stations should enable you to orientate yourself.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2009 11:32:07 GMT
Thanks very much for that. I had hoped that the new exit from the Northern line might eventually have had a route to the circle/met line platforms to save the cumbersome walking route at the moment
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2009 21:19:35 GMT
Thanks very much for that. I had hoped that the new exit from the Northern line might eventually have had a route to the circle/met line platforms to save the cumbersome walking route at the moment I *think* that when/if Chelsea-Hackney is built there will be a passage Northern to Circle to Chelney, although the plans may change by the time it is (possibly) built! At least another 15 years to wait ;-) |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 1:57:15 GMT
There's a very large poster/sticker above the entrance to the new ticket hall from the KX concourse that reads: 'NO ACCESS TO NORTHERN LINE, USE NEW TICKET HALL ->'.
All very confusing because there is plenty of access to the Northern Line and the arrow points towards the mainline platforms. Anyone know what it's about?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 10:31:28 GMT
It is because the escalators between the Northern and Piccadilly lines are "up" only at the moment
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2009 13:17:59 GMT
It is because the escalators between the Northern and Piccadilly lines are "up" only at the moment But then why is the sign telling you to use the new ticket hall and not the old one? and why does the arrow point towards platform 8? |
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;D
