Lifts at Waterloo

[Chris M]

In the 1992 stock refurbishment thread there was some discussion of the lift from the Waterloo and City line arrivals platform at Waterloo, including:

Jun 14, 2021 1:44:39 GMT aslefshrugged said:

Odd, when I've worked the W&C I've never noticed a lift on the arrivals platform. I will have a look the next time I'm down there although with only 10 duties required for peak time working that might not be until September

I had 40 minutes to get from Bank to Tottenham Court Road earlier this week, so I went via Waterloo and took some photos

The arrivals platform from the tailwall end

Lower lift loby

Top of the lift

The top of the lift is directly in line with and behind the stairs. The ticket hall with the gates leading to the other lines is behind the camera.

(click for a larger version of each photo)

[Chris L]

It is interesting that there is no wheelchair symbol on the sign.

As I said on the other thread, I was told that the lift is not wide enough for a wheelchair.

[Chris M]

I would be surprised if it was, it actually felt slightly larger than the lifts at the oldest DLR stations. Especially as there is no need to turn around or reverse.
My guess about the signage is that it is because there is (or at least was when the sign was installed) no wheelchair access to the exit or other lines.

[Chris L]

Jun 19, 2021 8:55:04 GMT Chris M said:

I would be surprised if it was, it actually felt slightly larger than the lifts at the oldest DLR stations. Especially as there is no need to turn around or reverse.
My guess about the signage is that it is because there is (or at least was when the sign was installed) no wheelchair access to the exit or other lines.

Probably not the space for a powered chair. Neither end of the line is shown on the Tube map as having wheelchair access.

[Chris M]

I would not expect the line to be marked as having wheelchair access until all there was wheelchair access from all four platforms to the street.

[Deleted]

According to the 3D map of Waterloo on the station master app there’s ramp access to the other W&C line platform.

[Chris M]

There is a ramp, but it's far too steep for an unaccompanied wheelchair user. There are three very small photos here. I'll see if I can get some larger photos later this week.

[brigham]

It should perhaps have some indication of its unsuitability for wheelchairs.
I devised a sign for this back in the '80s, based on the Worboys road traffic signs.
I was referred-to at the time as a 'sick b...ard'.
You can imagine my sense of vindication at seeing just such a sign at the start of a Reno-type moving walkway in a local supermarket.

[Chris M]

Jun 28, 2021 23:21:04 GMT Chris M said:

There is a ramp, but it's far too steep for an unaccompanied wheelchair user. There are three very small photos here. I'll see if I can get some larger photos later this week.

Some larger photos as promised, taken on Friday. Including one of the sign from the departures side to the lift to the NR concourse. I didn't spot a sign for the lift from before this point, but I wasn't actually looking for one.







(click for a larger version of any photo)

[Deleted]

I’m quite good in my chair but I think that’s too steep for me going up.

[Chris M]

Jul 5, 2021 14:07:09 GMT @spinba11 said:

I’m quite good in my chair but I think that’s too steep for me going up.

I'd be surprised if it wasn't. Although it would almost always be used going down, controlling speed would be important and there is limited space at the bottom (seen in image 2), particularly if it was busy.

[Chris L]

Jul 6, 2021 0:35:35 GMT Chris M said:

Jul 5, 2021 14:07:09 GMT @spinba11 said:

I’m quite good in my chair but I think that’s too steep for me going up.

I'd be surprised if it wasn't. Although it would almost always be used going down, controlling speed would be important and there is limited space at the bottom (seen in image 2), particularly if it was busy.

Having limited experience of wheelchair pushing I would have to go down in reverse. It would be very awkward.

The centre handrails are recent.

[Deleted]

Yes I didn’t see how close the bottom of the steps were.

[zbang]

Just looking at the photos, those ramps look completely non-compliant with the current regs (something like a max length 10m with a 500mm rise, so anything longer would require intermediate landings).

[Chris L]

Jul 7, 2021 17:29:58 GMT zbang said:

Just looking at the photos, those ramps look completely non-compliant with the current regs (something like a max length 10m with a 500mm rise, so anything longer would require intermediate landings).

Exempt in that they are pre-existing.