Regent's Park

That's a shame as the traditional tiles looked fantastic...

I would imagine they will be using modern replicas. I have heard a few times over the years that some factory in Italy produces the tiles for the stations, "heritage" tiles that is. I have heard that they are quite expensive as well. Its worth it. Too much heritage is being lost nowadays, we are fast losing our character.

I am not TOTALLY against white panels. It is part of Lu design!

Going off thread, design is a divisive topic. Personally, I think it would be a shame if all tower blocks were knocked down. Yes they might not be pretty to look at [some of them at least] but they are an important part of our social history.

I am going to put my head on the block now!

While a common design approach is good [and Lu are one of the best exponents of this, roundel, tiling etc] Should we not have a wider range of designs. Do all stations have to have heritage tiles? Apart from the modern ones obviously.

The Tube has been in existence for almost 150 years, should not the design/architecture illustrate that? Old alongside the new?

I am sure [like most things in life] people will moan when the white panels are replaced with video panels in say 40 years time.

I love the platforms at Charing Cross, which are featured with characters from English/British history, they are FAIRLY modern, and have just as much right to be displayed as "heritage tiles".

The best use of the white pannels that I've seen on the network is on the East London Line, particularly Whitechapel, where they host murals.

I agree about the variety comment, having a mixture of architectual styles is a Good Thing. The JLE, with each station built around a common theme (space, light, brushed silver/grey concrete) by different architects is a very good example of this.

well from what we hear from pjrb we know that at least some of them have some wish to keep the heritage we have on this system.

Take the heritage routes for example, those are an attempt by tfl to do some kind of heritage activity.

A number of, usually, lesser used stations have survived with their original tiling when other buisier stations have required additions and improvements. Surface 'heritage' stations, as well, have suffered the same fate and Edgware comes to mind - it was originally their pride and joy as a Roman Villa and in as much respect as Arnos Grove or Gants Hill were.

We will have progress or modernisation and while Totttenham Court Road is not my cup of tea at least it shows an alternative way of doing things.

How about a list of 'Heritage' Stations and themes for other stations ? For instance -

Arnos
Oakwood
Cockfosters
An example from Edgware, Barnet, GER, District and Met. Lines originals.
Half a dozen Leslie Greens.
Remaining Gillespie, Gt. Central, etc. Running in signs.

Oh! and the 'Met & Gt. Central' signs above North Harrow entrances, ( if they are still there)

Interesting question of what constitutes heritage. Regents Park featured the classic Yerkes style of the 1900s/1910s. Then in the 1920s came the great Northern Line extensions with the white tiles with green and blue surrounds for the posters and station names. But in the 1930s, while their architecural side was designing the great Charles Holden stations on the surface, the station platforms went through a very dull phase of using a uniform 'biscuit' coloured tile. Queensway/St.Paul's are two examples. St. John's Wood used these too but at least had some inlaid shields to alleviate the boredom. I think it's a great shame that the recent refurbs at Queensway and Swiss Cottage just renewed (and presumably re-matched) these biscuit tiles.
What are they going to do with Shepherd's Bush? A horrible mixture of colours and IIRC, the platform ceilings were decorated in a light blue colour which became black within a few years.

Yes, but having been down there the other day, quite a lot of it is in a bad state of repair!

It seems that they are trying for a "perfect crime" type refurbishment, which is infinitely preferable to the identical white stations that they have been churning out previously. In a prat of the wall that had not been retiled as yet it seemed that the tiles which needed to be replaced were marked with an X. This suggests that they may not be replacing original tiles which are in good condition. I couldn't see any evidence of the station name mosaics.

I have to say I'm liking the progress at Bethnal Green WB platform. There's replica tiles which stay loyal to the old design but the great thing is, there are two rows of flurocent lighting, coupled with the metal ceiling which reflects plenty of light.

Keep the heritage, but one horrid aspect of traditional tube stations are that, they are rather poorly lit. If stations are made as bright as Bethnal Green WB currently is, I'm happy. However, if they skimp on lighting and go back to a single row of flurocent lighting ("greener" this way actually ), bring on the new, KX SSL platform style! ;D

Edit: ok, KX is a little extreme but white walls like the lovely ones at CX are necessary to make the stations nice and bright - i.e. "pleasant" in my opinion.

I have to say that Regent's Park is one of my least favourite stations. The design is ok but the colour leaves a lot to be desired!

And in defence of Oxford Circus I must say it's great driving through there. The large black panels surrounded by clean, white tile always reminds me of a film strip and several times I've had to come to a sudden stop after admiring the effect for a bit too long! Entering the platform makes for a great bit of video too.

One intersting fact about Regents Park - when it re-opens it won't have a ticket office. Just machines.

It would be extremely nice just to have one platform somewhere in original condition with tungsten lamps and no advertising I crave for the sort of environment that various peoples pictures show of the tube in the past. Indeed CSLR has an extremely elloquent description of the appeal that LUL doesnt quite seem to have as much of nowadays in a christmas quiz thread. I'm sure a lot of people would smile being confronted with such a scene.

Off topic, but it was twice proposed Regents Park become a junction for a branch to Euston. Maybe it would have had more passengers if this had been constructed?