On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:36:29 -0800 (PST), Mizter T
wrote:

On 16 Jan, 17:43, "Paul Scott" wrote:
SWT mention in their latest magazine that the Waterloo Gateline,
installation about to start this month apparently, will have 120 gates.

So soon - I hadn't realised that! Also, anyone know what the latest is
on the Paddington gateline?


How will this compare numbers wise with existing large installations, such
as Liverpool St?

I haven't counted the gates at Liverpool St but I'd be surprised if
there were 60 on the main line concourse. The only place where there is
half decent array is on the Southend side of the station. All the
entrances are still sandwiched between retail units.

If Waterloo is to have 120 walkways then I think this will be the
biggest installation in one single station and certainly the biggest
"one off" installation I am aware of. Nowhere on LU gets close to those
numbers.

Does anyone know if the subways from the platforms down to the tube will
have barriers?

If the subway isn't covered then that does leave a rather gaping hole
open. Could the LU gates be shifted around so they also covered the
subway to the mainline platforms as well? Though I'm not sure how do-
able that would be.

I very much doubt the subways could be gated at all. There is no space
for run offs or for staff to attend to any ticket jams or similar.
There would be a very high risk of severe congestion and accidents and
very real difficulties in providing evacuation capacity.

I think SWT will simply work on the basis that they will have to accept
some "leakage" risk in the AM Peak which I believe is the only time the
steps and subways from the platforms are open. The rest of the time
everyone will go via the main concourse and I suspect that will easily
give them enough payback given quite a lot of the rest of their network
is gated so sealing Waterloo will be a big gain in dealing with "short"
tickets and other problems. It also gives an important boost to the
potential for Oyster and PAYG extension.

I don't see why LU would begin to consider moving its gatelines to deal
with a problem for a couple of hours M-F only. It's been a while since
I've been to Waterloo but isn't still a pedestrian route round the back
of the W&C line area from the "Long Gallery" to the Waterloo Road ticket
hall?

Plus of course such a suggestion brings with it a whole number of
other issues, such as the LU gateline staff having to be able to deal
with National Rail ticketing, and it would also open up another back
door for ticketless travellers to get on and off the LU network.

Which would cause LU problems and you'd still need Oyster validators
placed somewhere in the mix which would be a further cost and cause
potential hazards given the volume of them that would be needed.

Maybe SWT will just staff the subway at certain times, like FGW do on
the Paddington overbridge.

Is the right answer.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!