London Bridge station rebuild

Well no one advised me that was required. If someone had pointed that out within a couple of minutes of me entering the station I'd have either complied or left. Instead there was no such advice within the station and then I endured a lot of claptrap being given to me as "justification" for an unacceptable position. These are public assets funded by all of us. It was surely not unexpected that people would turn up to take a look and take some photos? The message could have been put across on social media but it wasn't. A couple of posters within the station telling people where to go would also have helped if NR *really* wanted *everyone* to comply with their guidelines. As they couldn't be bothered to do this then I assume they place no weight on their own guidelines.

I was also making a journey so why should I have to traipse back and forth to hand over permits? If I had had even a moderately coherent explanation rather than accusations that I *might* be a terrorist undertaking reconnaissance (I'm not and wasn't), that security staff could confiscate my camera (they can't) and that I was ignorant of applicable terrorism legislation (I'm not) then I might have been slightly happier. The security person was perfectly polite and decent but woefully unaware of the backdrop to what they can and cannot do within the terms of the law.

I agree, I was expecting something rather fantastic but I found it actually quite dark and austere. The staff also don't have any knowledge of Thameslink and Southern services.

I found the interior OK. It is somewhat gloomy when you enter from St Thomas St because of the low roof and absence of some facilities that will no doubt provide more illumation when they open or are installed. I though it was OK once you get into the main concourse area with its higher roof space. I'm still not convinced by the gateline layout. Looks bizarre to me. I know there will be many more when the remainder of the concourse opens but it feels terribly clumsy in the area near the ticket office with gates almost at 90 degrees to each other.

I suspect that we have the bizarre situation that staff upstairs know about Southern / T Link while those downstairs only know about South Eastern as that's "new". I assume that there are staff from 5 different organisations charged with "looking after people" - Southern / GTR, South Eastern, NR contracted security staff, NR permanent staff and BTP. Strikes me as a somewhat odd situation but not unique to London Bridge - with the possible exception of the high number of contracted staff. I sincerely hope that's a temporary situation for the next few days until people are fully back to work, kids are back at school and people have "learnt the ropes" about how the revised station works.

I hope the signage about how to get between LU and NR is also improved - I only found by way by virtue of having once trekked along Joiner St to find the entrance to the Shard and from there I could fathom out that St Thomas St was in front of me. Not really ideal though and I can't be counted as a regular at the London Bridge stations so could have got lost or confused all too easily. I tend to go past by bus far more often than rail.

What I'm a little confused by is that the set of escalators between 9 and 10 that connect the lower concourse and the upper concourse are part of the unpaid part of the station. If this was part of the paid area the upper level and lower level gatelines would look a lot tidier. But since passengers from upstairs need to be able to get to the ticket office, were stuck with an awkward layout.

I've never actually had to use London Bridge NR, so I'm curious as to where the ticket office used to be and how passengers accessed it, considered the station seems to be have considered two stations up until about 48 hours ago.

There is a good article just published on London Reconnections that I recommend viewing.

Surprised you thought there might be - it has been well publicised that there will be no through Thameslink services via London Bridge until 2018
www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/key-dates-and-service-changes

Of course its not being served again - the fact one third of London Bridge is STILL a building site (even if two thirds of it have re-opened) and is missing several important features (i.e. 6 platforms!) should have given a clue....

Thameslink services will only return when ALL the rebuilding is finished and ALL the new infrastructure is complete.

The next big change will be when the viaduct and buildings behind the hordings have been replaced and Cannon Street trains can call a LB again sometime next year.