Demolishion of old Custom House Station

[Deleted]

Hi all,

From the 15th Jan work will start or knocking down the old Custom House North London Line station.

I assume they are going to have keep at least a tiny part of the station as the stairs down to Freemasons are pretty close to the old station.

I wonder if this exit will actually remain open while these works are going on.

Dan

[rsdworker]

Jan 12, 2013 9:59:06 GMT @dannyeastlondon said:

Hi all,

From the 15th Jan work will start or knocking down the old Custom House North London Line station.

I assume they are going to have keep at least a tiny part of the station as the stairs down to Freemasons are pretty close to the old station.

I wonder if this exit will actually remain open while these works are going on.

Dan

also lift shaft as well - i remember there lift shaft - if its removed means disabled have to go round to other side

[Chris M]

Around the same time work will also start on the bridge over Victoria Dock Road, so if the present entrance needs to close at all it shouldn't need to until after the new one is open.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2013 15:41:20 GMT Chris M said:

Around the same time work will also start on the bridge over Victoria Dock Road, so if the present entrance needs to close at all it shouldn't need to until after the new one is open.

Not sure if you mean the next few months but the Barge is still full of people and not even sure it is being knocked down now?

[Chris M]

Well, the security guard I was chatting to there yesterday (will upload photos in a few days, hopefully) was saying that they are going to be starting to build the bridge shortly.

[rsdworker]

Jan 13, 2013 23:45:08 GMT Chris M said:

Well, the security guard I was chatting to there yesterday (will upload photos in a few days, hopefully) was saying that they are going to be starting to build the bridge shortly.

so new bridge to platforms and exit?

[Chris M]

That's the only new bridge in the area that I know about.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2013 23:45:08 GMT Chris M said:

Well, the security guard I was chatting to there yesterday (will upload photos in a few days, hopefully) was saying that they are going to be starting to build the bridge shortly.

I do wonder how this will all play out. Victoria Dock Road is a right mess at the moment with the current works. Buses are due back in March but don't see how this can happen if work will start on the bridge.

Guess we will have to see how it plays out.

[Chris M]

If the bridge is being constructed offsite (or even just off line) then it can plausibly be built with only an overnight road closure. I don't know if this is what is planned, but now the DLR track has been slewed there will likely be space to build a bridge deck there and I'dhave thought there would be time before Crossrail track is due in the area.

[Deleted]

I'm surprised its still there, I went there on a scorching day back last july. The station buiding was still intact, as was the platform lamposts (albiet not standing upright) Silverlink and British Rail signage and a BR permit to travel machine!

Started walking from North Woolwich trying to trace the line, its amazing just how barren it is south of the Connaught tunnel, in some places its difficult to see that a railway was ever there. Bar some ballast and random bits of railway related debris on it. I turned up camera in hand, only to find that Silvertown was a pile of rubble.

Going slightly OT from custom house, but outside the Loon Fung Chinese food warehouse in Silvertown, there was also a track that lead to an old gate next to the original line, could possibly still be there...

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2013 17:36:09 GMT @delboy200 said:

its amazing just how barren it is south of the Connaught tunnel, in some places its difficult to see that a railway was ever there. Bar some ballast and random bits of railway related debris on it. I turned up camera in hand, only to find that Silvertown was a pile of rubble.

The trackbed pretty much looked like that even when trains were running! They looked like continental street trams that have turf in between the rails, except more unkempt!

I've always seen that Permit To Travel machine as a piece of railway heritage, and I'll be sad to see it go. If it was a machine from the 1920s it would probably be preserved. 1989 isn't olde-worlde enough to warrant such interest though.

[Chris M]

Jan 14, 2013 17:36:09 GMT @delboy200 said:

Going slightly OT from custom house, but outside the Loon Fung Chinese food warehouse in Silvertown, there was also a track that lead to an old gate next to the original line, could possibly still be there...

It was still there on Saturday. It's possibly now the only surviving bit of the Silvertown Tramway - the bit of the railway that was cut off when the docks were expanded. There is a good map and some photos on either abandoned stations or disused stations (I can't remember which) - there were railways everywhere in Silvertown and North Woolwich at the height of the docks.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2013 16:21:28 GMT rsdworker said:

Jan 12, 2013 9:59:06 GMT @dannyeastlondon said:

Hi all,

From the 15th Jan work will start or knocking down the old Custom House North London Line station.

I assume they are going to have keep at least a tiny part of the station as the stairs down to Freemasons are pretty close to the old station.

I wonder if this exit will actually remain open while these works are going on.

Dan

also lift shaft as well - i remember there lift shaft - if its removed means disabled have to go round to other side

The present entrance to Custom House station will have to remain open, apart from those using the station for Excel it’s the only entrance for residents. I have seen no posters or any publicity stating that the entrance will close.
I am assuming that this entrance will remain open until the new entrance and bridge are built, then the current entrance and bridge will be demolished. I am assuming that the escalators to the DLR platform will remain and only those going to Excel will be able to use this entrance. All others will use the other side of the platform with steps to the new bridge and entrance.
Does anybody know if there are plans to put escalators / lifts on the other side of the DLR platforms as there will be a long walk round for residents with mobility issues to access the DLR platforms when this work is complete?

[Deleted]

Jan 18, 2013 16:29:20 GMT @gerryuk said:

Does anybody know if there are plans to put escalators / lifts on the other side of the DLR platforms as there will be a long walk round for residents with mobility issues to access the DLR platforms when this work is complete?

See www.crossrail.co.uk/route/stations/custom-house/ - and look at the 'design' tab.

The station is principally on two levels, ground (platform level and plant rooms,) and concourse (incorporating the station entrance and link bridges to the north and south) along with an ETFE roof. The layouts are organised on both levels by a colonnade running parallel to the platform.

Centred on the platform, the colonnade contains vertical circulation, ticket machines and staff accommodation, and stairs, escalators and lifts, along with plant rooms. The DLR eastern link bridge and ExCeL link bridge connect into this colonnade. The concourse extends to the north over the tracks to provide a public space with a translucent roof. The Victoria Dock Road bridge connects the station entrance to this public space and shares the same roof system.

also, further down the "design" tab -

An inclusive and accessible environment: Openness and straightforward routes make the station accessible for all users. Lifts, ramps and stairs provide Passengers with Restricted Mobility (PRM) access between DLR and Crossrail, Crossrail and ExCeL, and Crossrail and the local areas;

[Deleted]

They seem to have stepped up a gear at Custom House. The whole of Victoria Dock Road is now boarded off adjoining the line, except for the DLR entrance.
The old platforms used for Silverlink have now been demolished. I am assuming that the old ticket office will be gone in the next couple of days.

[Deleted]

The Barge is now also closed and ready to be demolished.

I can assure it is like living in a building site being local..... Roll on 2018