DWS
every second count's
Posts: 2,421
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Post by DWS on Dec 3, 2015 8:28:19 GMT
I'd say we almost certainly will. The official term is a "soft" opening (who comes up with these things?!), and I've already seen this mentioned in respect of this. I wonder if this is a Northern Line thing, as we've seen it before at TCR (a Northern-managed station), and for the various TBTC commissionings. Official term Soft Opening is a rubbish term dreamed up by the the faceless PR bods at TfL
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Dec 3, 2015 8:35:27 GMT
I'd say we almost certainly will. The official term is a "soft" opening (who comes up with these things?!), and I've already seen this mentioned in respect of this. I wonder if this is a Northern Line thing, as we've seen it before at TCR (a Northern-managed station), and for the various TBTC commissionings. Official term Soft Opening is a pants term dreamed up by the the faceless PR bods at TfL DWS, every large organisation has a Pants Department for deploying pants terms at every conceivable opportunity. Some of these people actually believe in what they do.........
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Post by John Tuthill on Dec 3, 2015 10:24:45 GMT
Official term Soft Opening is a pants term dreamed up by the the faceless PR bods at TfL DWS, every large organisation has a Pants Department for deploying pants terms at every conceivable opportunity. Some of these people actually believe in what they do......... PR man: "I know, lets get Katy Price to push the door open with her chest?"
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Dec 3, 2015 10:51:14 GMT
DWS, every large organisation has a Pants Department for deploying pants terms at every conceivable opportunity. Some of these people actually believe in what they do......... PR man: "I know, lets get Katy Price to push the door open with her chest?" A possibility JT but I suspect the man-made contents of Ms. Price's bosoms may well have atrophied by now so the proposed soft opening could turn into a replacement glass unit.
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Post by snoggle on Dec 3, 2015 11:27:00 GMT
I'd say we almost certainly will. The official term is a "soft" opening (who comes up with these things?!), and I've already seen this mentioned in respect of this. I wonder if this is a Northern Line thing, as we've seen it before at TCR (a Northern-managed station), and for the various TBTC commissionings. Surely "soft opening" is just a variant of the term "soft launch" which is something businesses do if they want to avoid being overwhelmed with demand but need the assets / systems to have some usage to properly test things out. Seems eminently sensible to me if you can do it safely. Didn't the East London Line have a quiet "try it out" service for a few weeks before full opening? In the past there was a great emphasis on "big bang" launches / openings and then something fails, it descends into chaos and then the ridicule starts. In today's instant social media whirlwind it's even more important to avoid instant disasters if you can. That's the peril that awaits Crossrail when it has to switch from running one service one day and another one the next day (e.g. running through the tunnels). I wouldn't be shocked if Crossrail do a bit of "tester" services on Paddington to Abbey Wood before a full service launches.
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Dec 3, 2015 12:36:20 GMT
I'd say we almost certainly will. The official term is a "soft" opening (who comes up with these things?!), and I've already seen this mentioned in respect of this. I wonder if this is a Northern Line thing, as we've seen it before at TCR (a Northern-managed station), and for the various TBTC commissionings. Surely "soft opening" is just a variant of the term "soft launch" which is something businesses do if they want to avoid being overwhelmed with demand but need the assets / systems to have some usage to properly test things out. Seems eminently sensible to me if you can do it safely. Didn't the East London Line have a quiet "try it out" service for a few weeks before full opening? In the past there was a great emphasis on "big bang" launches / openings and then something fails, it descends into chaos and then the ridicule starts. In today's instant social media whirlwind it's even more important to avoid instant disasters if you can. That's the peril that awaits Crossrail when it has to switch from running one service one day and another one the next day (e.g. running through the tunnels). I wouldn't be shocked if Crossrail do a bit of "tester" services on Paddington to Abbey Wood before a full service launches. I've been an advocate on here for some time of TfL just introducing improvements as and when without any major fanfare. At a stroke this approach cuts dead the moaning about date slippage and most likely saves a whole lot of hassle for put upon staff who's jobs are difficult enough as it is. I could do without the PR speak though. It wasn't necessary before, and it isn't now. I would love to see tester services without any announcements taking place.
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Post by trt on Dec 3, 2015 12:39:57 GMT
Was it at Heathrow that the new baggage handling system went embarrassingly wrong on it's big bang launch day?
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Post by John Tuthill on Dec 3, 2015 13:25:29 GMT
PR man: "I know, lets get Katy Price to push the door open with her chest?" A possibility JT but I suspect the man-made contents of Ms. Price's bosoms may well have atrophied by now so the proposed soft opening could turn into a replacement glass unit. Em Quite(I think)
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Dec 3, 2015 13:58:30 GMT
Was it at Heathrow that the new baggage handling system went embarrassingly wrong on it's big bang launch day? Yes, Terminal 5. It was of course predicted by Monty Python a few decades prior to opening:
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Post by patstonuk on Dec 3, 2015 15:34:24 GMT
I'd say we almost certainly will. The official term is a "soft" opening (who comes up with these things?!), and I've already seen this mentioned in respect of this. I wonder if this is a Northern Line thing, as we've seen it before at TCR (a Northern-managed station), and for the various TBTC commissionings. Surely "soft opening" is just a variant of the term "soft launch" which is something businesses do if they want to avoid being overwhelmed with demand but need the assets / systems to have some usage to properly test things out. Seems eminently sensible to me if you can do it safely. Didn't the East London Line have a quiet "try it out" service for a few weeks before full opening? In the past there was a great emphasis on "big bang" launches / openings and then something fails, it descends into chaos and then the ridicule starts. In today's instant social media whirlwind it's even more important to avoid instant disasters if you can. That's the peril that awaits Crossrail when it has to switch from running one service one day and another one the next day (e.g. running through the tunnels). I wouldn't be shocked if Crossrail do a bit of "tester" services on Paddington to Abbey Wood before a full service launches. Quite so, snoggle. The ELL did, indeed, have what amounted to a four week 'soft opening/launch' in the guise of a 'preview service': news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8620188.stmIt seems eminently sensible practice however it is described, and if there is an underlying event where prudence dictates a degree of caution in its introduction, then surely it matters not what it is called?
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Post by trt on Dec 3, 2015 15:49:35 GMT
Was it at Heathrow that the new baggage handling system went embarrassingly wrong on it's big bang launch day? Yes, Terminal 5. It was of course predicted by Monty Python a few decades prior to opening: IIRC, the failure was primarily due to extremely poor management and low morale. The bulk of the staff were untrained on the new equipment and were expected to re-skill on it in their own time. Meanwhile they went from zero to full throttle in the space of a day in terms of number of flights / passengers. There was something also about the design of the car park, but that's hazy, I mean, why would the car park design be bad for baggage handlers? Damn this getting older lark. A friend who works at Gatwick check-in told me about it all a few years ago.
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Post by jetblast787 on Dec 3, 2015 18:57:11 GMT
Was it at Heathrow that the new baggage handling system went embarrassingly wrong on it's big bang launch day? Funny thing, I participated on one of the tests they carried out a month before opening relating to the baggage system. Was a fun experience but a lot of sitting around occurred and I got free food, then spent the rest of the day planespotting! 10/10 would recommend again!
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Post by rsdworker on Dec 3, 2015 19:23:40 GMT
guys - we are talking about TCR station but now we are talking about Heathrow - its better be back on topic
i asked about step free - i was unuure when lifts would be opening - with central line or in 2016?
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Post by snoggle on Dec 3, 2015 20:14:05 GMT
guys - we are talking about TCR station but now we are talking about Heathrow - its better be back on topic i asked about step free - i was unuure when lifts would be opening - with central line or in 2016? Not sure about down to platform level but Londonist visited the station a week or so ago and their video says the lift to the plaza northern entrance opens next year. It seems that what we get on Sunday is a) Central Line platform access restored. b) I assume Central to Northern interchange restored c) Half of the Central line ticket hall opening. We already have the southern plaza exit open. In 2016 we apparently get a) the second half of the Central Line ticket hall open. b) the Dominion exit reopened c) the Northern plaza exit / entrance opens together with a lift. d) possibly access to a secondary corridor at Central line level to increase circulation space. Londonist also say the Dean St entrance could open in 2016 but that feels like a bit of a stretch to me. We shall see. I believe lift access to / from the Central Line relies on the Dean St Crossrail ticket hall opening given the configuration of lifts / escalators etc. Happy to be corrected.
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Post by stapler on Dec 3, 2015 22:03:43 GMT
Heard at Loughton a member of staff explaining to a "customer" today that step free would be provided at TCR "Soon, now"; pity Loughton itself may be done in about 2050!
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Post by superteacher on Dec 3, 2015 22:19:00 GMT
guys - we are talking about TCR station but now we are talking about Heathrow - its better be back on topic i asked about step free - i was unuure when lifts would be opening - with central line or in 2016? Mod comment: indeed. Can we get back on topic please? We can create a separate thread on soft openings.
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Post by rsdworker on Dec 4, 2015 1:22:52 GMT
there is one lift at oxford street entrance (which should be opened as well providing step free to ticket hall then lift to northern and central would be open as well - i havent seen pictures or anything yet
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 21:49:26 GMT
Looks like it has re-opened this evening. Seems odd to open it for a few hours the day before it was due to re-open.
Edit: Nevermind looks like they do some evacuation drills the day before!
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Post by snoggle on Dec 6, 2015 22:46:10 GMT
Looks like it has re-opened this evening. Seems odd to open it for a few hours the day before it was due to re-open. Edit: Nevermind looks like they do some evacuation drills the day before! I passed through on a train about 1430 on the off chance they'd repeated what they did with the Northern Line. Unfortunately we didn't stop although the fence barriers were down and people were tidying things away and finishing stuff off. From what I could see the ceiling isn't completely finished at platform level and it's the usual boring old white tiles (we are now a hospital) type finish away from the mosaics. There don't appear to have been any tweets saying the station is fully open but it's disappeared from the LU real time station closure list.
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 6, 2015 23:49:07 GMT
The station re-opened at around 1730 this evening, although this wasn't announced across the network publicly. It was very much intended as a 'soft' opening to give everything time to get back into the flow of things before tomorrow morning. As noted, this is a repeat of what happened with the Northern line side of the station.
As to why this was done - LU stations are staffed regardless of whether or not the station is open and closed. Although for large closures there may be a reduced staff footprint, there still have to be staff there. The station was handed back from the contractors, and the staff were available. Why then keep it closed unnecessarily? As mentioned above, it also gives staff a chance to discover any foibles before the morning peak the next day. Indeed, from speaking with staff on the station this evening there were several foibles discovered, with many staff getting lost in the warren of tunnels that have now opened up!
I'm just pulling together an album of photographs I took this evening of which I'll post up some highlights on this thread a little later. The station is looking pretty impressive - and it will be great to see the further stages - although a little bit rough around the edges at the moment. Many of the Paolozzi mosaics remain (As promised), although there seems to be further restoration work required on these, as well as tidying up where the mosaics give way to new tiling.
I can't remember if it was asked in this thread or elsewhere, but currently the station remains non-step-free. The lifts are progressing and are expected to open in the new year.
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Post by rsdworker on Dec 7, 2015 3:06:04 GMT
well central line lift signs are present as i saw photos from TFL - if its lift was unfinished then lift signs wouldn't be there so i am sure central line lift is completed like ticket hall signs - they had no lift signs when new ticket hall opened as i saw on photos so this shows the lifts was not installed at that time
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 7, 2015 3:07:13 GMT
As promised, here are a small selection of photographs from Tottenham Court Road after re-opening yesterday evening. As previously mentioned, the early opening was not widely publicised across the network, so understandably there are very few travellers in the station. More photographs can be seen on my Flickr page in the Tottenham Court Road station album.</blatant plug> Ticket Hall - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Shapes - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Where do we go? - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Escalators - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Echo Chamber - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Mosaics - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr 51648 - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Way out - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Concourse - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Labyrinth - Tottenham Court Road by Jack Gordon, on Flickr Many thanks to the staff who accommodated my mooching around, and best of luck with the 'proper' go-live in the morning!
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 7, 2015 3:14:13 GMT
well central line lift signs are present as i saw photos from TFL - if its lift was unfinished then lift signs wouldn't be there so i am sure central line lift is completed like ticket hall signs - they had no lift signs when new ticket hall opened as i saw on photos so this shows the lifts was not installed at that time The signs are present, but stickered over. All of the photographs released by TfL were prior to the station re-opening. The lifts are not yet completed and are not open. As mentioned, I spent a good amount of time signed in at the station taking photos, and spoke to several members of staff about the upgrade. All of the improvements works are due to be completed in early 2016.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 3:19:16 GMT
It's a bit characterless. It's very smart, and I remember liking it when I used the Northern line from there recently, but looking through the (well-taken, don't get me wrong) photographs, I do come away with an overwhelming sense of blandness
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Post by rsdworker on Dec 7, 2015 10:20:23 GMT
well central line lift signs are present as i saw photos from TFL - if its lift was unfinished then lift signs wouldn't be there so i am sure central line lift is completed like ticket hall signs - they had no lift signs when new ticket hall opened as i saw on photos so this shows the lifts was not installed at that time The signs are present, but stickered over. All of the photographs released by TfL were prior to the station re-opening. The lifts are not yet completed and are not open. As mentioned, I spent a good amount of time signed in at the station taking photos, and spoke to several members of staff about the upgrade. All of the improvements works are due to be completed in early 2016. ah thanks so i hopeful all lifts should be in service in early 2016
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Post by trt on Dec 7, 2015 10:52:00 GMT
I loved the Paolozzi mosaics. I'm glad to see they've managed to retain quite a few of them.
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Post by theblackferret on Dec 7, 2015 10:53:09 GMT
It's a bit characterless. It's very smart, and I remember liking it when I used the Northern line from there recently, but looking through the (well-taken, don't get me wrong) photographs, I do come away with an overwhelming sense of blandness I think it's a little inevitable, because the refurbishment is going to necessarily incorporate a TfL corporate feel, just like most of 1930's LT Holden-inspired Art Deco new builds & refurbishments tended towards, guess what, Lt house style. Not forgetting that this & other stations have become a lot busier over the last 20 years and that there are far more safety concerns with building and refurbishing now. I do think, though, we should have a vote on here as to what the bird on the right of the Echo Chamber mosaic is. Is it a pigeon, is it a chicken, is it an alien species? And the photos are excellent, thanks, MoreToJack
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Post by stapler on Dec 7, 2015 11:03:52 GMT
Blue seems to predominate - anyone would think it was on the Picc!
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Post by snoggle on Dec 7, 2015 11:25:21 GMT
As promised, here are a small selection of photographs from Tottenham Court Road after re-opening yesterday evening. As previously mentioned, the early opening was not widely publicised across the network, so understandably there are very few travellers in the station. More photographs can be seen on my Flickr page in the Tottenham Court Road station album.</blatant plug> Many thanks to the staff who accommodated my mooching around, and best of luck with the 'proper' go-live in the morning! Nice collection of photos there. Thanks MoreToJack . You've beaten me to it.
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Post by edwin on Dec 7, 2015 11:50:24 GMT
It's a bit characterless. It's very smart, and I remember liking it when I used the Northern line from there recently, but looking through the (well-taken, don't get me wrong) photographs, I do come away with an overwhelming sense of blandness Agreed, however, it is vastly better then before when it had ugly small beige tiles with black green and red trim - yeuch. Bland is better then ugly. I'm hoping the Crossrail sections have a bit more architectural interest when they open.
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