On 2009-08-25 16:37:19 +0100, 1506 said:

On Aug 25, 7:10*am, "Paul Scott"
wrote:
It has been reported (only by 'Transport Briefing' so far AFAICT) that a
second Crossrail Paddington station design contract has been let that:

"...involves drawing up detailed plans for a coordinated scheme for the
north side of Paddington station. This will include a new station entranc
e
fronting Paddington Basin, complete redevelopment of the Hammersmith and
City line Tube station, a new taxi facility and provision for an over-sit
e
development."

"Crossrail has awarded this latest design deal to accommodate the
significant increase in passenger demand predicted for Paddington station
and provide safe, smooth, step-free access through the station."

IIRC many of the discussions about the 'teacup service' alterations
mentioned the poor quality of the H&C platforms for interchange purposes.
*I
guess these proposed alterations to the overall station were already know
n
to LU's planners, and it is possible that part of the rationale for the
extended Circle service is to improve distribution of pax from Crossrail,
without needing to pass through the District/Circle station?

A couple of questions though, firstly why not do all the rebuilding first
and alter the service patterns later? Secondly, is the Network Rail 'Span
4'
work already integrated with this (apparently) new package?

Paul S

Thank you for posting Paul. I really appreciate seeing this
information. Somehow I had gotten the idea that the Paddington
Crossrail platforms were going to be on the other side of the mainline
platforms, under the cab road.

If Crossrail is going to be over on the north side I think
consideration should be given to cross platform interchange with the
Hammersmith and City.

My 0.02

As far as I understand it, this announcement of the this new contract
does not imply that the Crossrail station is being moved away from
being under Eastbourne Terrace. It simply says that a new northern
entrance is to be designed, and having suffered travelling via the H&C
to and from Paddington, not before time. The entrance to the suburban
platforms from Bishops Bridge has been closed for years and ever since
the 1968 resignalling the westbound H&C trains have had to share a
platform with the eastbound trains and the exit stairway to the
Paddington overbridge has been like a rugby scrum whenever two trains
cross there.

A new entrance on the north side with easy access to the forthcoming
Crossrail platforms to the south of the station (via a subway or an
extension to the existing bridge?) will be a great boon in view of the
number and size of the office blocks built on the site of the old
parcels depot over the past 10 years ar so.
--
Robert