class411
Operations: Normal
Posts: 2,724 
|
Post by class411 on Oct 25, 2022 17:43:15 GMT
Does anyone know why South Kensington is so busy at the moment?
I used it twice last Tuesday, and passed through it today, and on each occasion there was a massive queue of people waiting to use the exit steps to street level. (All observations outside rush hour.)
I've used it many times in the past and never seen congestion before.
|
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,310
|
Post by Colin on Oct 25, 2022 18:29:05 GMT
Dunno about last week but this week will be because it is half term.
It's location in relation to the museums is the prime reason.
|
|
|
|
Post by d7666 on Oct 25, 2022 18:30:20 GMT
Does anyone know why South Kensington is so busy at the moment? I used it twice last Tuesday, and passed through it today, and on each occasion there was a massive queue of people waiting to use the exit steps to street level. (All observations outside rush hour.) I've used it many times in the past and never seen congestion before. Oddly I have noticed this too, on passing through, in the mornings, usually ~10:00, so matches. It was apparent pre-covid, then dropped off, picked up again now. When I bother to look, there is usually some sort of school party involved in the melee somewhere*** either on or around the exit stairs; these parties seem to me to usually be loaded in the front part of westbounds+++ so at least those are in pole position for shambles around the stairs. School term I guess it is parties going to the museums - you only need one train to have one party moving slowly or being coralled and you get a knock on queue from later trains, especially if further parties arrive. Though this week is half term - maybe there is some brats and sprogs with adults attraction on ? *** some of which are sensibly organised and others of which you have to wonder of the schoolkids would be better at supervision than some of the adults "in charge" ; loading a party of 50+ ONE BY ONE through one set of doors is not good ; getting them through ticket gates ........ (repeat: it is not the kids, nor LU staff, it is the supervising adults .....) +++ and a reason why I join such trains at Blackfriars in the rear part |
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,310
|
Post by Colin on Oct 25, 2022 18:51:36 GMT
Though this week is half term - maybe there is some brats and sprogs with adults attraction on ? There doesn't need to be anything special put on during school holidays; the museums and thus South Kensington station are always busier off peak during school holidays - it's just a fact. |
|
|
|
Post by Dstock7080 on Oct 25, 2022 18:51:46 GMT
Has been very busy for a few months and especially at UK school holiday times, such as last and this week.
|
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Oct 25, 2022 22:58:07 GMT
What happened with the rebuilding project - and reopening the side platform?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dstock7080 on Oct 26, 2022 5:28:24 GMT
What happened with the rebuilding project - and reopening the side platform? Revised plans submitted in June 2022 were again rejected by Kensington and Chelsea Council planning officials |
|
|
|
Post by stapler on Oct 26, 2022 9:57:53 GMT
Blame Tyrannosaurus etc, and the seeming obsession of 7-8 year olds with dinosaurs....
|
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Oct 26, 2022 17:07:04 GMT
Revised plans submitted in June 2022 were again rejected by Kensington and Chelsea Council planning officials Sigh |
|
class411
Operations: Normal
Posts: 2,724
|
Post by class411 on Oct 26, 2022 18:24:19 GMT
Several people have mentioned the museums, but they have always been there. (Well, at least since well before anyone on this site was born).
Indeed, that is the reason I'm so familiar with the station.
Admittedly I sometimes use the tunnel, but until last week I've never seen congestion to the extent it's been in evidence recently.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnlinford on Oct 26, 2022 21:21:56 GMT
That level of congestion sounds similar to what it used to be like during school half terms in 2018/19 (and even February 2020), and half term was definitely the cause of the uptick.
|
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,310
|
Post by Colin on Oct 26, 2022 21:54:47 GMT
Several people have mentioned the museums, but they have always been there. (Well, at least since well before anyone on this site was born). Indeed, that is the reason I'm so familiar with the station. Admittedly I sometimes use the tunnel, but until last week I've never seen congestion to the extent it's been in evidence recently. I've been a driver on the District line for 18 years and I can assure you South Kensington station has always been extremely busy during school holidays throughout all of those 18 years. It is most definitely not a new phenomenon. I don't understand how you've never noticed it before if you are so familiar with the station! |
|
class411
Operations: Normal
Posts: 2,724
|
Post by class411 on Oct 27, 2022 8:49:25 GMT
I don't understand how you've never noticed it before if you are so familiar with the station! Yes, it is odd. It's true, the station has always seemed busy when I have used it, and I dare say there may have been a couple of people waiting to use the stairs, but in this case, over the course of two weeks, on three occasions, the was a 'pool' of people, 8-10 deep, around the base of the stairs. The platforms, on the other hand, seemed to have the usual occupancy, and there was no congestion at the gate-line, meaning the steps were a definite pinch point |
|
Chris M
Global Moderator
Forum Quizmaster
Always happy to receive quiz ideas and pictures by email or PM
Posts: 19,397
|
Post by Chris M on Oct 27, 2022 10:24:52 GMT
I'm only an occasional user of the station, but a large group of people waiting to climb the stairs is how its been every time I've used it or passed through at busy (or even slightly busy) times.
|
|
|
|
Post by d7666 on Oct 27, 2022 13:00:32 GMT
I don't understand how you've never noticed it before if you are so familiar with the station! Yes, it is odd. It's true, the station has always seemed busy when I have used it, and I dare say there may have been a couple of people waiting to use the stairs, but in this case, over the course of two weeks, on three occasions, the was a 'pool' of people, 8-10 deep, around the base of the stairs. The platforms, on the other hand, seemed to have the usual occupancy, and there was no congestion at the gate-line, meaning the steps were a definite pinch point Something has changed. On my travel through the place it apears to be much busier with more stairs queuing than, for reference, pre covid. Admittedly I do not exit the station, I pass through it, but, also interchange there - if at Blackfriars I board the first westbound and it is a Circle and plenty of seats then take that to South Ken for the next non Circle. So I do see the queues. IME they are bigger, or slower, than previously. |
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Oct 27, 2022 19:21:01 GMT
This photo is from about 20 years ago. I have also seen instances when people have to queue in the pedestrian tunnel before being able to get to the station entrance.  |
|
|
|
Post by pbin on Oct 27, 2022 21:11:51 GMT
There’s a lot of students from Imperial College who commute in from West London (Hammersmith area). Imperial also has some new halls in North Acton, roughly housing a 1,200 students probably resulting in an increase of busyness. You’d see a lot of students especially at 08:50 and 09:50 because lectures usually start at 09:00 and 10:00.
I do think the station needs upgrades urgently… the stairs simply can’t deal with the amount of people using the station.
|
|
class411
Operations: Normal
Posts: 2,724
|
Post by class411 on Oct 28, 2022 8:57:26 GMT
This photo is from about 20 years ago. I have also seen instances when people have to queue in the pedestrian tunnel before being able to get to the station entrance. Looking at that photo has clarified what it was that I found unusual - although I didn't realise the detail at the time. That photo shows a fairly normal busy exit. There are people crowded at the bottom of the stairs and others approaching the crowd. In each of the cases I referred to in the OP, there was a crowd at the base of the steps, and the remainder of the platform areas were just lightly loaded. As if a lot of people had got off a train and the last of them were making their way up the stairs. This is obviously something that happens a lot, and it was presumably just a statistical anomaly that I saw it happen three times in a row. It was definitely the last occurrence that made me think: "I'll ask about that on DD". |
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Oct 28, 2022 14:26:51 GMT
I do think the station needs upgrades urgently… the stairs simply can’t deal with the amount of people using the station. Not just the stairs - the ticket hall needs more exits, congestion in the ticket hall adds to the delays. More ticket gates might help too - but are not a solution on their own. |
|
Chris M
Global Moderator
Forum Quizmaster
Always happy to receive quiz ideas and pictures by email or PM
Posts: 19,397
|
Post by Chris M on Oct 28, 2022 14:54:28 GMT
the number of ticket gates has already been increased - iirc a structure in the ticket hall (ticket office? retail unit?) was demolished and the space used to move the gates further from the top of the escalators and allow for more of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by d7666 on Oct 30, 2022 2:45:39 GMT
There’s a lot of students from Imperial College who commute in from West London (Hammersmith area). Imperial also has some new halls in North Acton, roughly housing a 1,200 students probably resulting in an increase of busyness. You’d see a lot of students especially at 08:50 and 09:50 because lectures usually start at 09:00 and 10:00. Interesting .... .... As that is around the default time I pass through / interchange there; actually about 09:40, Thameslink earlier on permitting me to get to Blackfriars, so it would be drifting towards 09:45, 09:50, given Thameslink's normal operation. I'm still sure though it appears to me to be busier now than (to give it a reference) pre-covid; I didn't start commuting this route until 2016 so can't comment before that. |
|
londoner
thinking on '73 stock
Posts: 478
|
Post by londoner on Oct 30, 2022 15:17:48 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by spsmiler on Oct 30, 2022 20:02:55 GMT
There are some really interesting comments on that Ian Visits page - including these:
I agree with the residents who want older heritage style buildings retained and do not want "a hideous modern structure that could be anywhere". But it is important that the older buildings are fit for purpose / not in a state of decay. Buildings which are life-expired do need replacing, although perhaps the older facade can be retained for the newer structure.
One suggestion is for a competition that is open to all to design buildings that are visually attractive, would make the project financially viable and facilitate step-free access to the District & Circle line plus (if possible) the Piccadilly like too (perhaps using the existing lift shafts - or were there steps between the lifts and the platforms?)
Hopefully this will lead to a viable solution - personally speaking I'd like a solution that widened the platform that is to be reopened at the expense of (slightly) narrowing the extra wide island platform. This is because I question whether the reopened platform will be wide enough.
|
|
|
|
Post by jimbo on Oct 30, 2022 20:39:47 GMT
So these are two separate projects for the station. The wholesale redevelopment over the area is still in dispute. A smaller project to reopen a disused platform was envisaged to relieve demand before the Picc platforms closed, to cope with extra District traffic that would entail. That one seems to be lost in the Covid financial squeeze. But the Picc escalator renewals continued anyway whilst Covid had reduced demand at the station. I presume when the long-term financial plan of TfL is sorted, the additional platform work will progress.
|
|
|
|
Post by jimbo on Oct 30, 2022 20:55:17 GMT
... the Piccadilly like too (perhaps using the existing lift shafts - or were there steps between the lifts and the platforms?) The lifts did offer step-free access to the platforms, although unusually here there were two lower landings since the platforms were built at different levels to allow for the planned junction east of there to the District deep-level line for Mansion House. In fact, part of the westbound platform tunnel for that was built alongside the lifts. So, the lifts would stop at both lower levels. The top station was also at a different level to the District Line station, I believe, as the similar Gloucester Road station pair were. [reference Tiles of the Unexpected, Underground. Author: Rose, Douglas.] |
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,310
|
Post by Colin on Oct 30, 2022 21:01:38 GMT
personally speaking I'd like a solution that widened the platform that is to be reopened at the expense of (slightly) narrowing the extra wide island platform. This is because I question whether the reopened platform will be wide enough. I dunno where the project is now but the original plan was to keep the eastbound District/Circle track where it is now and widen the disused platform across to meet it. The existing eastbound side of the island District/Circle platform would then be fenced off thus creating large platforms dedicated to one direction of travel only (ignoring the reversing capability east of the station). The vast majority of customers arriving at the station do so in the westbound direction, so retaining the existing island platform for dedicated westbound District & Circle trains makes perfect sense. I don't see the proposed widened eastbound platform having any capacity issues, as long as the District & Circle service doesn't fall over. If the widened eastbound platform were to struggle for capacity, its not a big issue as station control measures can limit the number of customers permitted to access the platform - this is no different to how any other LU station is managed. |
|
|
|
Post by Dstock7080 on Dec 13, 2023 9:54:10 GMT
|
|
