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Post by andypurk on Aug 21, 2011 0:43:10 GMT
I was wondering if any one can explain the decision made to close the original ticket hall access to the Victoria / Piccadilly / Northern (announced as due to an escalator fault) and to then only provide one down escalator at the Northern Ticket Hall (NTH). This evening (6pm Saturday), there was severe crowding at the top of the single escalator (a second escalator was taped off) and seems to completely contradict the announcements the closure was for 'safety' reasons. Five escalators up (three in the original ticket hall and two at the NTH) and only one down seems a bit unbalanced.
It is probably just about acceptable to divert people when there are two down escalators (at the NTH) available during the week, but surely not at the weekend. The entrance outside the front of King's Cross mainline station was still open for people going down, which hasn't usually been the case when the only access has been via the Northern Ticket Hall during the escalator works.
I have also sent an e-mail to TfL asking for their reasoning.
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Post by uzairjubilee on Aug 21, 2011 11:12:59 GMT
I was at KX when this problem occurred too. What a long walk down to the Victoria line!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 15:34:30 GMT
I hate Kings Cross now this "diversion" is in effect; you end up having to walk miles through the new passageways if you want to use the Northern. For a while they even closed "my" passageway (the always-empty route to the Northern from the foot of the Vic (I think?) escalators), which was always quicker than the normal route, and you were guaranteed a little solitude! I tend to pick a route that arrives at Kgx via the Circle/H&C/Met if I ever have to go there now.
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SE13
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2013
Glorious Gooner
Posts: 9,737
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Post by SE13 on Aug 21, 2011 17:10:43 GMT
They had the Piccadilly areas closed off a while ago - That's a bundle of laughs after a few gallons of finest, then trying to remember how to find the Northern areas! (Or was it the Victoria area? Did have a fair bit to drink that day!)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 18:29:24 GMT
While you await your answer from TfL.
Regarding the escalator fault:
One of the newly refurbished escalators was badly damaged by a strip of metal that fell from passengers luggage that caused so much damage that 75% of the steps need replacing. There are current investigations why a comb detector sensor did not activate sooner thus preventing the extent of the damage and this is delaying the escalator returning to service.
I don't know the exact reason why only one escalator was provided in the down direction BUT this is a form of crowd control. Staff at Kings Cross are experienced in managing massive crowds and I know that many decisions made don't always appear sensible to some users but any decision to limit and entry/ exit is never taken lightly and is often (if not always) made to prevent a bigger problem that you may not be aware of (i.e. service delay, gap in service etc)
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Post by andypurk on Aug 21, 2011 18:47:28 GMT
While you await your answer from TfL. Regarding the escalator fault: One of the newly refurbished escalators was badly damaged by a strip of metal that fell from passengers luggage that caused so much damage that 75% of the steps need replacing. There are current investigations why a comb detector sensor did not activate sooner thus preventing the extent of the damage and this is delaying the escalator returning to service. Sounds expensive. There were no advertised delays yesterday and with the subsurface lines being closed, there would have been less congestion behind the ticket barriers in the old ticket hall. Might not a one way system be a better solution than allowing people out of all the exits? For example exit only via the original ticket hall and entrance only via the Northern Ticket Hall (or vice versa). This would be similar to the one way system to/from the LU ticket hall used at Euston when one of the escalators to/from the main concourse is out of action. Of course, such a system would need some investment in illuminated signs to point passengers in the correct direction to/from the platforms. |
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SE13
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2013
Glorious Gooner
Posts: 9,737
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Post by SE13 on Aug 21, 2011 19:54:14 GMT
While you await your answer from TfL.  |
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Ben
fotopic... whats that?
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Post by Ben on Aug 22, 2011 12:23:00 GMT
A strip of metal caused 75% of the steps to become so damaged as to need replacing!? How is that even possible?
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Phil
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RIP 23-Oct-2018
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Post by Phil on Aug 25, 2011 21:50:46 GMT
A strip of metal caused 75% of the steps to become so damaged as to need replacing!? How is that even possible? Presumably that's what they're trying to find out with the investigation..    |
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