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Post by tom73 on Sept 1, 2019 9:08:42 GMT
I see some former ticket offices are now tiled over as though there was nothing there at all. Why didn't LUL bring in a little extra cash by renting out the former and subsequently unused ticket office for a small retail outlet. All ticket offices, in addition to the part passengers could see, also included a mess room and a small office for the Chief Clerk so there would be plenty of space for transforming into a small outlet. LUL could even have gone into the retail business themselves keeping the unused space to sell bottled drinks in warm weather and hot drinks in cold weather and perhaps include a National Lottery terminal as well.
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 1, 2019 10:23:49 GMT
Part of the non-publicly visible space in ticket offices is used for things like the safe, which will obviously still be required for at least as long as ticket machines take cash. And generally I think in many cases the space has been used to make the other offices less cramped.
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Post by greatkingrat on Sept 1, 2019 10:29:29 GMT
Plus most stations already have newsagents/kiosks either on the premises or very close by, so there is unlikely to be that much demand for more retail space.
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Post by Chris L on Sept 1, 2019 13:00:17 GMT
I see some former ticket offices are now tiled over as though there was nothing there at all. Why didn't LUL bring in a little extra cash by renting out the former and subsequently unused ticket office for a small retail outlet. All ticket offices, in addition to the part passengers could see, also included a mess room and a small office for the Chief Clerk so there would be plenty of space for transforming into a small outlet. LUL could even have gone into the retail business themselves keeping the unused space to sell bottled drinks in warm weather and hot drinks in cold weather and perhaps include a National Lottery terminal as well. Poor time in retail. They converted the ticket office space at Charing Cross into a shop a long time ago. Still waiting for a tenant. Not a simple task at many locations where things like toilets and air conditioning would need to be reconfigured. As previously mentioned coin counting machines and safes need to be in a protected area.
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Post by revupminster on Sept 1, 2019 13:32:46 GMT
Most ticket office did not have a Chief Clerks Office at the East end of the District Line. Before the rebuild for UTS the Chief Clerks did not have an office at all and there was no toilet provision at all for the booking clerks. After rebuild toilet and chief clerks office was provided. After the UTS rebuild Chief clerks offices were provided at Hornchurch (moving the CC from Elm Park), Dagenham Heathway, East Ham and Plaistow (Upton Park CC was abolished. Bromley by Bow was on the Eastbound platform.
The UTS office were designed with the passenger operated machines separated from the ticket office by a hallway as it was envisioned a security company would collect the money from the machines. The safe was here as well and later CCTV recording equipment which then consisted of 31 video tapes; one for each day of the month. Following the abolition of the Booking Clerks in the company plan and multifunctional supervisors the CCTV monitors were placed above the ticket office machines or on the wall behind so the supervisor could sell tickets and watch the station. I worked Elm Park and we worked alone except for a part time ticket seller between 0600-11.00 hrs (5hrs no meal relief required) Mon-Fri. We were expected to close for our meal relief, twice on Sunday during a 12 hr shift. If you went off station the station was left unmanned.
After the closure of ticket offices after I left the underground I think the CCTV equipment is still there are there any station supervisors anymore? or are they roving about..?
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Sept 1, 2019 19:50:42 GMT
I see some former ticket offices are now tiled over as though there was nothing there at all. Why didn't LUL bring in a little extra cash by renting out the former and subsequently unused ticket office for a small retail outlet. All ticket offices, in addition to the part passengers could see, also included a mess room and a small office for the Chief Clerk so there would be plenty of space for transforming into a small outlet. LUL could even have gone into the retail business themselves keeping the unused space to sell bottled drinks in warm weather and hot drinks in cold weather and perhaps include a National Lottery terminal as well. I guess the simple reason is that the space for ticket counter was small and the rest of the office is still used for associated purposes. Of course, one option would be to introduce a similar concept to that seen on MerseyrRail with their "M to go" shops. These are station shops selling 'grab & go' goods to commuters (and umbrellas when it unexpectedly rains) as well as a full range of National Rail tickets. "Can I have a tea, a sausage roll and a day return to Kirkby please?"- Me, most mornings
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Sept 1, 2019 21:51:18 GMT
These are station shops selling 'grab & go' goods to commuters (and umbrellas when it unexpectedly rains) as well as a full range of National Rail tickets. Is there a reason they refuse to serve goods to umbrellas when rain was forecast?
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Post by londonstuff on Sept 1, 2019 22:01:42 GMT
*I was quite impressed by the rent-an-umbrella service in Shanghai (where it was dry, but didn’t see it in Beijing where it was absolutely monsoon-like). I think you just returned them to another station à la BorisSantander bikes. Mind you, even with they were in use, there was still an insatiable appetite for selfies. Imagine needing a selfie this badly. 😂 *probably all off-topic - sorry
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Sept 2, 2019 6:11:23 GMT
These are station shops selling 'grab & go' goods to commuters (and umbrellas when it unexpectedly rains) as well as a full range of National Rail tickets. Is there a reason they refuse to serve goods to umbrellas when rain was forecast? Chris, you're ability to take pedantry to Another Level always astounds me.
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Post by kesmet on Sept 8, 2019 19:01:37 GMT
Is there a reason they refuse to serve goods to umbrellas when rain was forecast? Chris, you're ability to take pedantry to Another Level always astounds me. Surely that should be 'yore'?
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Sept 8, 2019 19:56:27 GMT
I love pedants'.
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Post by occasionaltraveller on Sept 9, 2019 7:20:38 GMT
I recently went on the Hidden London tour of Piccadilly Circus, and before the actual tour started had a good look around the station. I don't think I've done that before; the few times I've entered or exited there I've headed straight for the ticket barrier or to the exit.
It was a Saturday at around 4pm. Most of the retail units were empty (no tenant); nearly all of the remainder were closed. The only thing I remember being open was the key-cutter and he didn't look busy.
If TfL can't do much with dedicated retail space in a station in the centre of the West End, I can't really see them managing to lease out former ticket offices elsewhere.
The former booking office windows have been used by the Museum to display posters about Charles Holden and about the history of the station.
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Post by Chris L on Sept 9, 2019 18:01:53 GMT
The problem with Piccadilly Circus is that it is a listed building so it is difficult to provide modern retail space of a sufficient size to attract new outlets.
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DWS
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Post by DWS on Sept 9, 2019 22:44:31 GMT
The former Jubliee line ticket office which closed around 2013 at Stratford, has come a Pret A Manger, it's brightened up what used to be dull area of the station when you leave the trains arriving on platforms 14 & 15 .
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Post by Chris L on Sept 10, 2019 18:33:47 GMT
The former Jubliee line ticket office which closed around 2013 at Stratford, has come a Pret A Manger, it's brightened up what used to be dull area of the station when you leave the trains arriving on platforms 14 & 15 . the long term tenant next door was put out of business!
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Post by spsmiler on Sept 10, 2019 21:54:29 GMT
The former Jubliee line ticket office which closed around 2013 at Stratford, has come a Pret A Manger, it's brightened up what used to be dull area of the station when you leave the trains arriving on platforms 14 & 15 . A few weeks ago I went to Westfield Stratford and noticed that the ticket office in the new ticket hall near the shopping centre exit seems to have reopened.
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