The last couple of times I've used the station, the entrance near to the Lawn has been exit only with all three escalators travelling up. I've needed to walk to the escalators at the other end which was one way downwards to go in or get the lift half way along. Both occasions were at a fairly quiet time of day and there seemed to be no good reason for this arrangement. Have I been unlucky or is this the new normal?
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Paddington Crossrail One Way System for Passengers
- Thread starter Thames99
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Boilinthebag
Member
As far as I've seen this is the new normal, was the same this evening. Confusingly the way out arrows still point to the down escalators.
irish_rail
Established Member
Concourse at Paddington is a nightmare to navigate these days due to the flow of passengers streaming off the Elizabeth line, generally at odds with the general direction of travel of passengers heading for the Mainline platforms. Today I was nearly knocked off my feet by a pram pusher who was too busy looking sideways at her friend. Something probably needs doing to improve the flow of passengers through the main concourse, what though, I don't know.
I think it may be best to get off mainline trains onto the footbridge and walk across to platform 1. Then through the passageway near to Paddington Bear to get to the Crossrail entrance. Mind you that will guarantee that both entrances would be available in both directions.
It seems to vary day by day, sometimes you can use both exits, other times it’s one way, seems to change throughout the day depending on the time but I’ve done a few early jobs starting at the same time and it’s been different each day
Class800
Established Member
A radical idea? Do it like it's always been. Have up and down at all available exits and let people sort themselves out
It's a trial I believe to see how/if passenger behaviour changes and general reception by passengers. Lots of escalator accidents it seems. Seems it's rather disliked so far though.
It was so much worse when Paddington - Abbey Wood was running but trains continued to terminate/start at Paddington off GWML & Liverpool Street off GEML; the crossfall was awful!
Not sure there's an easy answer unfortunately.
It was so much worse when Paddington - Abbey Wood was running but trains continued to terminate/start at Paddington off GWML & Liverpool Street off GEML; the crossfall was awful!
Not sure there's an easy answer unfortunately.
The issue with Paddington Lawn, like many concourses at London main line stations nowadays, is the combination of operating procedures which do not make the platform available until the last moment (and despite statements that the train is 'being prepared', it clearly isn't), together with the desire to sell tickets for just one particular service as otherwise you lose all your money, notwithstanding departures to main destinations at Metro-like 20 minute intervals. The same "you have lost all your money" approach prevails if you haven't been standing right in front of the departure indicators with both eyes bolted firmly on the displays to see your platform come up. Hence the crush.
These attitudes do seem to have come along since the Elizabeth Line passenger flows were first modelled.
CapitalStar378
Member
- Joined
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I don't see any benefit, it just causes a big diversion for passengers entering the Crossrail station. I've not seen huge crowds bunching up at either entrance.
Whitechapel has only just started using the middle escalator to the Crossrail platforms bi-directionally depending on the flows, so I'm not sure the planning is what it should be on the Liz line!
Whitechapel has only just started using the middle escalator to the Crossrail platforms bi-directionally depending on the flows, so I'm not sure the planning is what it should be on the Liz line!
I was quite pleased that last night the IET I boarded at Paddington was announced a good 20 minutes before departure. So they can do it...
I couldn't see any problem with the original system. The diversion is a bit tedious.
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Normally seems to be actioned after the weekday morning peak (around 0930). I was told that it's partly designed to encourage people with prams and/or luggage to use the lifts by getting them to walk past them (on their way otherwise to reach the country end down escalators). It seems to work in that respect. Otherwise it's rather a nuisance and I wish that they would stop the trial!!
Not really because anyone is a hurry to get somewhere will rush more...
Depends on the turnround time for the set, although cleaning is often done very quickly and efficiently after arriving passengers have alighted.
Which is fine....but I was responding to the suggestion above that they choose to only announce trains at the last minute even when the train is available earlier than that.
Agreed, I spotted the same yesterday evening.