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ELL: poor passenger information systems
On 6 May, 19:13, "Dr. Sunil" wrote:
On May 6, 6:10*pm, Martin Smith wrote: On 06/05/2010 11:44, Clive Page wrote: I made a small diversion on a journey yesterday and used the East London Line from New Cross Gate to Whitechapel. At other stations south of New Cross Gate, e.g. Brockley, were marked with London Overground branding, even though they don't yet have the trains. But at New Cross Gate, even though it does have the trains, there were no signs evident at all. Having arrived on the slow up platform I assumed that I had to go up the steps to the main station level, but then there was no indication at all of ELL/Overground services. The next departure was (I later found out) in 10 minutes, but did not show on the main departures board. A helpful man at the ticket gates told me to go to Platform 1. On platform 1 there was a new ELL train but no indication of destination on the platform, or on the train itself. Boarding passengers mostly asked those on the train whether it was going to Dalston. Indeed the signage at New Cross Gate is rather lacking and there is some lack of communication too. I used it for the first time a couple of days ago, only as far as Canada Water, on my return journey about 3.30 pm I got up to the platform at Canada Water, a New Cross was due in and arrived, the New Cross Gate was ticking down on the indicator, and some minutes late it came through out of service, no announcements though. After another New Cross arrived some minutes late with yet another New Cross Gate apparently 2 minutes behind it I asked the only member of staff in sight whether it was worth waiting, he said there had been disruption and that the approaching one was the first to the Gate for 3 hours. Well, it came in and was ok, but the lack of announcements was really a bit slack. Presumably when the through services are running the up services will use platform 5 and the flyover. About 9 minutes later, i.e. about a minute before departure, the on-train signs lit up showing Dalston. It's good that they leave the waiting train open for passengers to board and get a seat, but not good that their passenger information systems are so completely useless. Several of the refurbished stations have nice murals or reproductions of old photos on the walls - when I have more time I might be inclined to get off and study them. I changed to the District Line at Whitechapel - the signs directing you to the platforms for the east and westbound services are ok, but once on the appropriate platform the was no indication of which platform face the next train would leave from, or whether District or Hammersmith line. The platform had what I think was one of the old-style blinds with cut-outs of destinations over a set of fluorescent tubes (don't know that they are called). Whatever it was it didn't function, and I checked both sides. Fortunately a train came in with Richmond on the front. Nothing on the destination board throughout, no audible announcements at any time. Whitechapel has always been like that, but as a general rule the westbound trains always use the 2 platforms nearest the booking hall, sorry I cannot remember the numbering right now, that is the subway on the left downstairs. But getting the H & C can be very chancy, like NXG lack of decent signage and information, but did you notice the old unused sign over the stairs saying Metropolitan Line... Now that Whitechapel is again a fairly important interchange station, it's about time TfL put in working destination boards. -- Martin replies to newsgroup only please. There is one solitary Overground sign at New Cross Gate: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...tation_signage... I didn't notice new signs at Brockley - did you mean Honor Oak Park? Also seen them at Sydenham, Penge West and Anerley. They now seem to have appeared at Brockley, but not at Forest Hill. Also the New Cross Gate signs have changed to the standard type seen at stations south of the http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...gnage_2010.JPG |
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