Sources indicate that the Stratford International Extension to the DLR now has a fixed opening date - the 29th August.
The opening of the extension has been delayed for some time now - an uncharacteristic event for a DLR project, which have traditionally been the more punctual of London's Transport projects.
Here, however, issues ranging from site thefts to the financial failure of a key signalling supplier have conspired to put back the opening date.
To a certain extent, this delayed opening has not caused major issues for the line as a whole - largely because it will not be until Stratford Westfield opens and the Olympics begin that the extension will really prove its worth. It has been a frustrating wait though, nonetheless - a situation not helped by various opening dates (both rumoured and suggested within TfL documents and comments) passing with relatively little comment.
Ultimately, however, it does appear that now a final, firm launch date - the upcoming bank holiday weekend - has been fixed, with Monday 29th the intended day for public services to start.
As always if information indicates that this situation has changed we will update. You can see pictures of the new DLR station on this post here.
Better late than never I guess - maybe there is just enough time left before it opens to run down and strip dome more cabling out ;)
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty I suspect the lack of info surrounding its opening may have something to do with the numerous 'canceled' openings of the ELL - however early than expected it did open.
Certainly from our perspective it did - I've seen various dates suggested, and its been moved a couple of times, so I held back on this until I had a date I was 95% confident was going to be stuck to.
ReplyDeleteThe ELL ultimatley oppened early. Over eager press offices and management at TfL/Mayors Office mismanaged the story. I guess in these days of instant communication and twitter etc, the various 'soft opeenings' and trials leaked out to a wider audience than was perhaps intended.
ReplyDeleteThe ELL ultimatley oppened early. Over eager press offices and management at TfL/Mayors Office mismanaged the story. I guess in these days of instant communication and twitter etc, the various 'soft opeenings' and trials leaked out to a wider audience than was perhaps intended.
ReplyDeleteI thought Stratford International was cordoned off inside the Olympic site? Where can one go from the DLR station (on 29th Aug)?
ReplyDelete@Spiderboy: I'd suggest that for the first few weeks the only public access from Stratford International DLR would be to and from Stratford International SouthEastern/HS1 station. People working at Westfield (preparing the shops, stocking shelves, finishing off the building etc) might be allowed through to the shopping centre. The rest of us will presumably have to wait until the September opening of Westfield for that privilege. As for the Olympic site, I'd suggest you're right, that will remain cordoned off until next year.
ReplyDeleteCatch a train to Ebbsfleet?
ReplyDeleteAt last! Is it worth extending further to Chobham Manor and Sweetwater?
ReplyDeleteThis is great news. I live near the new Star Lane DLR station and it will be very handy when Westfield Stratford opens the following month. Better late than never!
ReplyDeleteanonymous 15.46
ReplyDeleteIt is just another shopping centre. Yawn.
Have you been to the Shep. Bush Westfield? It is a disgusting palace of the worst in consumerism. Made me feel sick to be in the place.
kit green:
ReplyDeleteSorry, but "the worst in consumerism" was demonstrated last week in Tottenham, Hackney, Ealing, Croydon ...........
if i think back to the delayed opening of shepherd's bush over ground station - it too after many many delays opened just a few weeks before the adjoining shopping center... is this a pattern???
ReplyDeleteTo be fair to TfL, even without the cable thefts etc, how many people would have used the DLR extension until Westfield opened? The builders can enter the site through Stratford, as can any staff stocking the shops or receiving training in recent weeks. HS1 commuters wanting to reach the Docklands will have used the shuttle bus. Yes, I understand the frustration of communities around Star Lane, Abbey Road, and Stratford High Street but they have convenient buses to Stratford/Jubliee line connections. Delaying the opening might have saved taxpayers a little bit of cash.
ReplyDeleteWill Oyster &/or pensioners passes (for want of a better description) now be valid StP domestic <-> Stratford "international?
ReplyDeleteAnd if not, why not?
I'll believe it when I travel on it! At 2 minutes between Stratford International and Stratford it'll be much quicker than the "DLR preview" bus and less work for those with big bags - like the six of us heading for Edinburgh on the 6th and back on the 13th.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said... "how many people would have used the DLR extension until Westfield opened? 15 August 2011 18:54"
ReplyDeleteI don't think you've understood just how many buses they have been running at peak hours. It's a lot more than one every 15 minutes!
The above comebt regarding oyster etc on the HS1 link between StP and Stratford Int is an interesting one. If you go via the 'parallel lines' rule then yes 'tfl only' travel cards e.g. discount travel cards, etc should be valid like they are on all other lines eg Stratford to Liverpool St.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the case here I have no idea but it is an interesting thought. The other question that I don't have an answer to either - but hopefully somebody can is do the DLR and HS1 share a common gate line? as if they do go will ever know!
As as forebode pointing out that the ell opened early - maybe read the last line of my first post ;)
james "do the DLR and HS1 share a common gate line? as if they do who will ever know (that an Oyster user used the Javelin)"
ReplyDeleteYou'd get caught at the gateline at StP (anywhere else would be outside the Oyster zone)
I understand that HS1 is, like HEx, outside Oyster validity even for journeys entirely within Greater London
the "parallel lines" principle? Whats that - confusingly you can be charged different rates (and fined if you have the wrong ticket) for using the wrong route - e.g. Wimbledon -Victoria is cheapoer via Earls Court than via Clapham Junction, the cheapest fare from Lewisham to Kings Cross is via the DLR to Bank, not the much quicker route via London Bridge and Thameslink or indeed the Northern Line
The Bus Link carries bikes between Stratford and Stratford-in-the-Hole, so you can board an HS1 service probably to Ebbsfleet, where a notable percentage (compared to other locations) cycle (probably because its as fast as driving to Northfleet and other local towns, and you save a packet on the car parking). Now I guess the site security won't open up to let cyclist ride in if the bus service is withdrawn, so does this mean we take bikes on DLR to get the Stratford?
ReplyDelete@james @timbeau
ReplyDeleteHighspeed services have a dedicated gateline at St Pancras with no oyster readers so unlikely you'd get away with an oyster fare.
I reckon things will change on this one eventually but it'll be a while.
There are separate gatelines at both St Pancras and Stratford International for HS1 services, so there's no chance of slipping through.
ReplyDeleteTrain Operating Companies are required by their franchise agreements to accept London Travelcards (etc). However, the government put a specific exception for the HS1 services in the Integrated Kent Franchise (a.k.a. Southeastern) tender documents.
This is because the government want as much money as possible extracted from passengers, and the way franchises are structured much of this goes to the government.
I note the DLR from Stratford to Bow Church is closed that weekend, could that be a reason for choosing the particular opening date?
ReplyDeleteMy god - so the looting can be spread between E15 and carn-e-vaal?
ReplyDeleteAs far as the gate line is concerned, it doesn't look from the photos like there is any direct connection between the DLR and NR stations at all. It seems the DLR station is across the street.
ReplyDeleteMel Atkey said... "the DLR station is across the street. 15 August 2011 23:58"
ReplyDeleteThat's right.
Dave H said... "I guess the site security won't open up to let cyclist ride in " 15 August 2011 21:32
ReplyDeleteThe last day of the "DLR preview" bus is Tuesday 20 September; it says so on posters at the end of platform 11. Site Security is in the process of change for the Stratford City opening on Tuesday 13 September and for the extension of bus 97 via Alma Street (west)to Stratford City bus station a few days earlier. The "DLR preview" bus is now leaving the secure area into Leyton Road and re-entering via Alma Street (west).
Whether or not cyclists and general traffic will be allowed to reach Stratford International from Alma Street (west) next month was not entirely obvious on 6 & 13 August when I passed through.
Your problem is that different bodies have different responsibilities and it does not seem that there is an overall responsiblity for cyclists.
Ah, see what you mean ...
ReplyDeleteThe DLR station @ "Stratford-in-the Hole (as opposed to Startford-atte-Bow) is across a service road, and "up top" - from the pictures published in your ealier piece.
Still wonder if a "Pensioner's Pass" will work St P <-> S-i-t-H.
(No anagrams, please!)
As mine lets me onto NR platforms across London - even Euston, because I might need to get to Harrow-&-Wealdstone, for instance.
George Moore said...
ReplyDeleteAt last! Is it worth extending further to Chobham Manor and Sweetwater?
I seem to recall that the alignment was chosen to allow onward extension to Temple Mills.
According to a map linked to by the BBC, that route would take it through/past Chobham Manor, but be in completely the wrong direction for Sweetwater.
Chobham Manor itself looks a little too close to Stratford Internation to warrant a station, but maybe one serving the northern part of Chobham Manor as well as the sports venue in the north of the park
Greg: I don't think it will work. The reason you have access to a lot of NR platforms is, as you identify, is that there are services from them on which Travelcards are valid - eg. LO/LM to Harrow and Wealdstone.
ReplyDeleteIf it's excluded from Travelcards, then surely it isn't given away with the Freedom Pass either...
Finally it will be open in about 2 weeks time, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteNo more Canning Town change platform hell. :-)
ReplyDeleteCanning Town change platform hell is surely going to get worse - which platform does the next Woolwich train go from? (Depends whether its coming from Stratford or Bank)
ReplyDeleteAnd if they are both approaching, it's up to the computer which will go out first.
I was at Canning Town station the other day, saw a second set of DLR platforms. Does this mean you have to change platforms if you're on a train from Bank?
ReplyDeleteKevrani
ReplyDeleteThe layout will be as shown in this linkie http://www.thetrams.co.uk/dlr/stratint/
Thus there will be separate island platforms for trains to/from Stratford and trains to/from Poplar, but both sets of platforms have access to both the Beckton and the Woolwich line: thus trains to Woolwich can go from either platform, as can trains to Beckton. The layout is in fact very similar to Camden Town, and will suffer the same guesswork problems for southbound passengers.
This link may be better
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thetrams.co.uk/dlr/stratint/canning-rv.gif
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of writing a book about the DLR. You can preview, pre-order and buy it at my webiste: http://www.mooretrains.webeden.co.uk.
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of writing a book about the DLR. You can preview, pre-order and buy it at my webiste: http://www.mooretrains.webeden.co.uk.
ReplyDeleteAnd gricing those connections is going to be FUN .....
ReplyDeleteThat's an ad. :)
ReplyDeleteA couple of followip points -
1) tha parallel lines principal I mentioned above is/was (I'm not sure if it's been removed now) a set of routes that were designated by tfl / nr as a way of getting between two stations that could be done on either of their networks without further interchange, or a massive detour. They were about 5 or 6 as I recall, and were used when things like LT cards existed (the for runner of the discount travel card) which were offered to students, and 16-18 card holders etc by tfl for a 30% discount. They were not valid on NR lines like a standard travel card, so were not much of a coat to tfl as they never ha to pay nr any of the profits from the sale of te cards, and a massive anouance to those living south of the river! Anyway the principal came that they were valid on a few nr routes like between Stratford and Liverpool street, a few stations on the Richmond branch of the district line and barking to Fenchurch St if I recall correctly.
As for the DLR closure between Bow and Stratford, this is nothing to do with the DLR but has been forced on tfl by nr a they are doing some works on the mainlines which the DLR shares a trackbed with and they don't want driverless trains running up and down while the workforce/ machinery could fall onto the tracks etc!
And finally it's not going to be the computer that decides which train goes first onto the woolwich/ beckton lines from canning town, but rather the timetable programed into it, and the set of rules it has been programed with to deal with conflicting train paths - full AI is a long way off ;)
As their seems to be two of us using the same name I'm going to change mine slightly...
Remember what's happening in 2012 guys. Those who have already spent loads of our cash will want to grab the maximum possible (special elevated!) fares off Olympic tourists doing the trip from St Pancras. After that lot have gone home, the Oystercard readers may appear. (& Westfield will probably insist on it!).
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the DLR extension is on the way, it'll mean that my London Connections map is slightly more accurate, as it has shown the new route with all its stations since 'early 2011'. However, it has somehow failed to notice the already open ELL extension to Highbury and Islington!
"timbeau said... Kevrani
ReplyDeleteThe layout will be as shown in this link"
except that the third platfrom at Royal Victoria has not been built.
A much more convenient layout for Canning Town would have been to divert the line from Poplar into what is actuually the northbound Stratford platform, and use the old "from Poplar" platform as a northbound one passing over the connection from Poplar and into the Stratford line. Thus all northbound trains would use the "old" station and all southbound ones the "new" one. Connections at the south end would be no more complex than they actually are - both platforms in the "old" statiuon can already be accessed from the Woolwich line and a crossover (possibly just reversing the sense of the existing one) would provide the same access from the Beckton line. Another crossover (or again reversing the sense of the existing one) just south of the "new" platform would allow trains from Bank to access both Woolwich and Beckton, but a more elegant solution would be a spur connecting the "from Bank" platform to the flyover to allow parrallel moves (Bank - Beckton, Stratford - Woolwich).
ReplyDeleteThis layout, as well as being easier for passengers, eliminates the two flat junctions south of Canning Town in the existing layout, where Beckton to Stratford trains cross Stratford to Woolwich ones, and where Woolwich to Stratford trains cross Bank to Woolwich ones.
Regarding extensions to Temple Mills etc, following the curve would surely make Stratford international dlr station a spur, either reducing onwards frequencies or requiring the station to be moved or abandoned. It doesn't,t sound leike the have an extension in mins....
ReplyDeleteanon
ReplyDeleteRemember that DLR trains are computer-controlled.
A reverse for all trains at Stratford-in-the Hole is NOT a problem.
The TO opens the doors, people get on & off, he/she shuts the doors, train goes off the other way - all under programmed control.
It only becomes a problem if you have service fequencies like those between WestFerry/Poplar/W India Quay ....
Of course, some of us would prefer Stratford to go back in time, without ghastly shopping centres and "olympic" pavilions.
ReplyDeleteLets see if I can get this to work ....
Something Like this one
Or, perhaps this one
What a wonderful smokey hole!
[ As opposed to being "in-the-Hole" that is. ]
And, yes, I did take the pictures ....
I heard today from a PSA on the DLR at Canning Town that the extension isn't going to open until the middle of September now, because they need more time to do testing.
ReplyDeleteNot the news I was hoping to bring to the blog on this already rainy day...
August 29th/30th did sound a bit optimistic. Have they done any regular, timetabled through running to the Beckton and Woolwich Arsenal branches yet? I've not noticed any closures at that end of the network recently that would allow for such testing.
ReplyDeleteI can see them pushing it back to September 13th to coincide with the Westfield complex and Stratford City Bus Station opening, and then the powers that be can have a much grander photo opportunity
@ Anon 22:54
ReplyDeleteTesting between Woolwich Arsenal and Stratford International is starting from next week or the week after. Trains would run in service to Canning Town (new platforms), then run empty to Stratford International, come back to Canning Town, pick up passengers then run in service back to Woolwich Arsenal.
That is the plan for now...
And ..
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE.
The DLR section of the TfL web-site is totally uninformative.
P.S. Didn't anybody like the pictures of Stratford-as-it-was?
Yes.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Greg
ReplyDeleteLike the old photos but steam engine plus brake van (3 men) to transport 7 cars - no wonder the A13 was built. But wait - they are BMC's - in east London. Imports huh.
peter
ReplyDeleteThat train was heading SOUTH.
Look at the curve in the background.
Or use "multimap/streetmap + Aerial view" for confirmation.
So that train, holding 7 cars was going for export.
Remember, the docks were still in full operation then!
whats the deal with the siding next to royal victoria ? is it going to be converted to a platform or is it just for emergencies/engineering etc?
ReplyDeleteAnon 08:08
ReplyDeleteI was initally under the impression it was going to be a third platform, but an engineer told me last year that it will just be a siding.
Some testing has started. The sleeper and fence have been removed from across the up and down lines between the new platforms at Canning Town and Royal Victoria. Yesterday (23rd Aug) trains were running south into Canning Town and then south for 150m before turning round and crossing over to run back towards Stratford. There was a door-opener on board who was doing the opening and closing etc. A 2-car train in use.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Moore said... "Trains would run in service to Canning Town (new platforms), then run empty to Stratford International, come back to Canning Town, pick up passengers"
ReplyDeleteThat would seem to be a later stage. Today they are running as described earlier. Very loud announcement at Abbey Road; not friendly to neighbours.
TFL are publishing the train times through their web API. The iPhone app Tube Boards shows the data for Canning Town platforms 1 & 2 - currently blank but they showed the test train times yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe tests are only taking place within office hours.
Yesterday at 15:15 the test train ran on from Canning Town to at least Royal Victoria and the guard on the Beckton service behind had to apologise as it was delayed.
By the way - has anyone noticed that the system clocks on the DLR run 2 minutes behind the rest of the known world?
I understand that passenger service _may_ commence on 29th or 30th August. Some stations may not enter service immediately as apparently building work has not been fully completed.
ReplyDeleteThis came from an employee - however, he stressed the 'hope' rather than this being a definite plan.
@ Anonymous at 1407 - I went past all of the stations two days ago and not a single one looked in need of any building works. Serco would not have accepted the line if works were outstanding. The signs and fittings have all been unwrapped and cleaned. There are still some barriers at platform edges and station entrances but that's it. Ticketing equipment is covered over which is to be expected. Platform indicators were working at most but not all platforms which is not exactly a show stopper or difficult to fix.
ReplyDeleteDLR have announced that peak services to Beckton and Woolwich will be reduced tomorrow to allow "final testing" on the Stratford International Line.
The TfL Journey Planner includes the new line as in service from 30 August 2011 if you care to punch in some example journeys for 30th Aug and 29th Aug. You will soon see the difference.
Now I am not saying for definite that it will open on Tuesday as I don't know but there are some positive indicators.
Unimaginatively, the new line seems to be set up only for Stratford - Woolwich Arsenal at present.
ReplyDeleteI do sincerely hope that they realise that there is considerable demand on the Stratford - Beckton leg which will not be best served by having to do the (long) transition at Canning Town.
I'd like to see the restoration of trains between Beckton and Bank too...
Still, with the Docklands Late Railway you have to expect the un-obvious and illogical:-(
@ Anonymous 0734 - I don't understand why you are saying the new line is set only for Woolwich Arsenal. Trains will only run direct from SI to WA in M-F peaks. At all other times the service will run SI - Beckton. This, of course, is not what was originally advertised on the development website. It stated a mixed pattern of train to / from both Woolwich and Beckton. My own view is that there are merits in having both direct routes from SI.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping to have the benefit of direct off peak trains to Woolwich without the faff of changing at C Town. It seems I am to be disappointed - at least in the short term.
I also think you are being unfair about the DLR. This is the only project out of many over the years which has been demonstrably late against its original target completion date. Every other project has pretty much been done early or on time and under or on budget. That's a pretty good record given the scale of some of the works. Each line extension has also bust its demand forecasts within months of opening. I'd call that a success.
I agree that the DLR is successful - its just that certainly for the past three years (since I have had to use it) the service has been very unreliable for months after any change has been made to it - and the statistics do not show the 20 minute stoppages and so forth. Recently, however, the DLR has been very reliable - and so much so that I would rather be able to rely on a 16 minute journey on the DLR than a very variable journey on the Jubilee line.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that the DLR has improved although the virtual news blackout over the opening of this extension is really not acceptable.
The comment regarding the running of the service between Stratford Int. and Woolwich Arse was the result of a quick analysis of the journey planner. You are right - the best result would be able to get to more destinations without having to change trains, especially at stations like Canning Town where the change is a fair slog.
Anyhow, I await the new service in the hope that the introduction is not followed by months of catastrophic teething difficulties (such as those that followed the change of layout at Canning Town last year).
Any ideas for a sensible rename for Stratford International? As it doesn't offer any opportunities for travel to France ou/of Belgique/België perhaps we could take the owners to Newham trading standards for an action under the Trades Descriptions Act. We have already had Stratford-in-the-Hole suggested. Any other thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI like Stratford in the Hole - it is just right.
ReplyDeleteService has _not_ started today (at at least at around 08:00) but test trains are running. The on-line journey planner shows trains running from Beckton to Stratford International from 10:40 (1st train) until 15:40 (last train) but when I left home the service (test trains) was stopping at Abbey Road.
ReplyDeleteAs usual no announcement of any assistance from DLR...
Yes, looks like they've slipped again. Will be interesting to see whether we get "live" services from 10:40, or whether its now become "tomorrow."
ReplyDeleteNot running through Stratford platform 17 at 08:35 nor at 12:42.
ReplyDeleteDLR = Docklands Late Railway
ReplyDeleteTomorrow afternoon after an official opening is now the word from the clouds.
ReplyDeleteAn announcement to this effect was made on BBC London News on the TV this morning - no time was stated but it was announced that the line would open today and that four new stations would be added to the network.
ReplyDeleteLets hope...
Barriers down this morning and covers off ticket and oyster card machines. Lunchtime opening was what I was told
ReplyDeleteReports on Twitter suggest it opened at 11am. Can anyone confirm this?
ReplyDeleteCan confirm the line is now fully open
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know why temporary-looking platforms have been fitted above the existing outer platforms at Stratford International (NR)?
ReplyDeleteI noticed lots of the platform seating and handrails on the extension is lined in red. Considering platform seating on Overground platforms are orange I would have assumed turquoise would be more fitting.
ReplyDeleteAnon 31 August 2011 15:26 - I imagine the first use for these platforms will be for the Javelin service during the Olympics, so it's something to do with this?
ReplyDeleteThe DLR departure monitor at Canning Town station refers to Stratford not Stratford International. It also included an error message to say it was low on virtual memory. None of this helpful when the signs after the ticket barriers tell you to refer to DLR screens for correct platforms. I think there needs to be a "Next train to... Beckton / Woolwich Arsenal screen".
ReplyDeleteRe: Platforms. It looks like there were already platforms underneath. These temporary boards covered in asphalt material seem to have been put on top. I wondered if it was anything to do with the step height of the new DB trains?
ReplyDeleteService started at around 11:00 today. I took a train at 12:00 from Royal Victoria (actually 12:02 as the DLR clocks are 2 minutes behind) which was mostly being used by staff together with a few people 'bashing' the new line.
ReplyDeleteUnhelpfully the service will not run to Beckton at peak times but only in the mid-morning to mid-afternoon off-peak.
The announcement seems to go on and on at Canning Town explaining to passengers that they have to go down one flight of stairs, through the ticket hall and then up two further flights of stairs to re-join the DLR to other destinations. By the time the guard had made this announcement, the doors had closed! Go figure.
The track is smooth and there were plenty of locals at Star lane and Abbey Road. None of the new stations appear on the TFL web site, however.
So far only two-car trains have been seen. The ten minute frequency will not make this a very useful service between Stratford and Canning Town except when the Jubilee Line is broken, which is quite a lot at the moment.
Regarding Canning Town, the announcement board on the existing DLR platforms refers to the new extension as "...between Stratford International..." so presumably the trains are only running within that station in someone's view. Go figure.
Plenty of signs at Stratford directing passengers to the new DLR platforms remain covered. I also wish the DLR used large roundels like the Tube and Overhround instead of NR style hanging station signs. Apparently there was an internal debate when the Overground brand was designed, with the DLR bods wanting their style of station signs over the Tube-style ones.
ReplyDeleteHeard the platform covers at Stratford international were to heighten them for wheelchairs during the Paralympics next year - hence them being somewhat temporary.
ReplyDeleteThe temporary platform surfaces on the 'side' platforms at Stratford International are there so that the domestic high speed services can use all four platforms for the enhanced 'Olympic Javelin' service.
ReplyDeleteThis is the main reason why there has been no attempt to introduce Eurostar services prior to the games, because they would have to stop again before, during and after the games period...
I'd assume the platforms were already DDA compliant so surely they should already be able to handle wheelchairs?
ReplyDeleteAbbey Road to Stratford International in 6 minutes; bodes well for football journeys.
ReplyDeleteMore passengers arriving at SI by the buslink than DLR, but that won't last. Quite a lot got on a Stratford to head south.
Anon @ 1909
ReplyDeleteThe international platforms are lower than normal UK platforms; like those dedicated to the Eurostars at St Pancras they are at the optimum height for UIC or European gauge - indeed for any potential DB services that happen along in future.
This therefore makes them too low for the 'Javelins'.
I emailed DLR today regarding the new platforms at Stratford as there aren't any oyster card readers at the entrance to platforms 16 & 17.
ReplyDeleteIf you arrive on a mainline train and are travelling towards Beckton there isn't anywhere to touch in! I had to leave the station and come back in again to touch my card on a reader! Also if arriving at Stratford from Beckton direction you have to walk round the LU ticket booth to touch out on the Jubilee Line reader which is pretty inconvenient especially if a Tube has just arrived. This seems crazy.
I think many of the passengers on the shuttle bid were bus enthusiasts. A notice outside SInt (NR) said the shuttle bus would end soon but there weren't any signs heralding the opening of the DLR across the road. The lone figure in the DLR entrance certainly wasn't calling people across.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete"This seems crazy."
1 September 2011 08:00
There are many crazy things at Stratford station. Some examples
1) Lack of signs on platforms 9 -12
2) How do you reach platform 12 if you need to use a lift?
3) £1m is too much for Network Rail to spend re-numbering the platforms, though £100m+ has been invested in platforms 1 & 2 for LO, DLR, northern & mezzanine entrances and all those new stairs and lifts.
@ Anonymous 0800 - the big problem is that there are so many potential ticketing interfaces at Stratford is that you could legitimately have a validator at every platform. I do think the issue needs looking at in some detail as to what is sensible for those needing to validate "in" or "out" in the paid area as opposed to route validation for lower fares. The problem is that the message is "touch your Oyster card" on the validator whereas if everyone did that there'd be chaos as charging would go astray.
ReplyDeleteI have a priv PAYG Oyster and if I arrive on a TfL route and then need to validate for a NR journey I end up playing "hunt the validator". I wanted to use the T Hale service yesterday having arrived on the shuttle bus. I had to go from P11 to P2 to validate on a "route validator" and then go to P12 for my train.
@ Anonymous 1911 - the simple issue is that all of the expenditure you cite came from ODA or TfL funding. I don't think Network Rail have spent a penny of their own money on anything at Stratford. Someone else has paid. That's why it still looks like a patchwork quilt in places with inconsistent finishes etc.
anon 1911 on 1st Sept
ReplyDeleteYour Q2 - the step free access to P12 is via the LO platforms, P1 and P2. There is a short ramp to deal with the slightly different levels, but I suggest the difference in height didn't justify a separate lift.
Anonymous said... anon 1911 on 1st Sept
ReplyDelete"Your Q2 - the step free access to P12 is via the LO platforms, P1 and P2. There is a short ramp to deal with the slightly different levels
2 September 2011 11:51"
Thanks for taking the troubel to explain that. My point was; how is someone who doesn't know that supposed to find their way? Its not on any sign.
If Javelins cannot cope with UIC level platforms (como Eurostar), how do they manage at Ebbsfleet? I haven't been there, so am totally ignorant.
ReplyDeleteOn the tram-train line in Amstelveen (south Amsterdam), they have platform extensions at the lower level so the trams can load, with the Metro trains using the higher level bits.
Ebbsfleet has separate dedicated international and domestic platforms, same as Stratford Int and St Pancras.
ReplyDeleteDLR opening still not mentioned on Southeastern's website.
ReplyDeleteWe can live in hope of an updating soon.
Southeastern to run extra services for Westfield opening, using the International platforms. I guess this answers the question.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/latest-news/extra-trains-for-westfield-opening/
DLR are also changing the service pattern for next Tuesday-Friday. Looks like trains from Woolwich up the new branch in off peak as well as peak.
ReplyDeleteThey have Westfield opening plus the large defence event at Excel next week.