Post by superteacher on Jan 2, 2008 20:47:33 GMT
Although not directly underground related, folks may be aware that the closure of Liverpool Street NR station ("One" railway) overran, and the station was closed for most of today (2nd January).
I wasn't around in the morning peak to see how things were going, but can say that for the rest of the day, the Central line was the saviour! However, Stratford station from 5pm - 6.30pm was total carnage - I can't remember seeing such crowds of people! In some ways, it was fortunate that a fair proportion of people hadn't returned to work, otherwise it could have been worse!
The main problem was that the Central was carrying many extra passengers, and most of these wanted to get off at Stratford. The platform was very busy, not only with people waiting for the Metro services to Gidea Park / Shenfield, but with people fighting their way to the stairs to get to other platforms, from where services to further afield were running. The stairs are towards the rear of the eastbound central platform, and the frequency of the Central line trains meant that more and more people were getting dumped on the platform. By about 5.15pm, it was so packed that passengers were having diffciculty getting off of the Central line (now that's a pleasant change!)
Due to the above, the next few trains were non stopped. which no doubt pleased anyone who wanted to get off. When a train did stop, I took it to Leyton, and what a sight! There must have been over 500 people on the eastbound platform, trying to get across to the westbound so that they could return to Stratford. Anyone who knows Leyton will recall that the stairs are very narrow there.
I can only imagine what things would have been like had the Central not been operating a good service . . .
I wasn't around in the morning peak to see how things were going, but can say that for the rest of the day, the Central line was the saviour! However, Stratford station from 5pm - 6.30pm was total carnage - I can't remember seeing such crowds of people! In some ways, it was fortunate that a fair proportion of people hadn't returned to work, otherwise it could have been worse!
The main problem was that the Central was carrying many extra passengers, and most of these wanted to get off at Stratford. The platform was very busy, not only with people waiting for the Metro services to Gidea Park / Shenfield, but with people fighting their way to the stairs to get to other platforms, from where services to further afield were running. The stairs are towards the rear of the eastbound central platform, and the frequency of the Central line trains meant that more and more people were getting dumped on the platform. By about 5.15pm, it was so packed that passengers were having diffciculty getting off of the Central line (now that's a pleasant change!)
Due to the above, the next few trains were non stopped. which no doubt pleased anyone who wanted to get off. When a train did stop, I took it to Leyton, and what a sight! There must have been over 500 people on the eastbound platform, trying to get across to the westbound so that they could return to Stratford. Anyone who knows Leyton will recall that the stairs are very narrow there.
I can only imagine what things would have been like had the Central not been operating a good service . . .
