On Sep 16, 5:13*pm, Robin9 wrote:
'Recliner[_2_ Wrote: ;123088'] 4. Which Stratford station?

It's very obvious, as Paul C has previously stated, that the new
Stratford northern ticket hall is the primary access to Westfield;
Stratford International is much less convenient. So the opening of the
DLR to Stratford International was pretty much irrelevant for the
Westfield opening. *

For most visitors certainly but not for those who arrive via DLR. If you
are already on the DLR, it makes sense to stay on and alight at
Stratford International and walk through the "big" station to enter the
Westfield complex at that same level. That way the only steps are those
from the DLR platforms . . . . and you miss the crush.

--
Robin9

The main point of the DLR to Stratford International station is to
provide the High Speed station with a fixed link to the local railway
network.

My main gripe with the shopping centre is that the ginormous
footbridge is uncovered - it rained a little bit on opening day on
Tuesday and needed to take shelter in Westfield itself, albeit briefly!

"Richard J." wrote in message

Recliner wrote on 16 September 2011
12:08:41 ...
Yesterday, I took my first trip to Westfield Stratford and the DLR
extension. Here's a few observations:
[snip]

3. Walking the route of the DLR.

When the DLR extension enters Stratford station from the south (using
the former NLL platforms), it's at local ground level. But when it
leaves heading north, it appears to be in a cut and cover tunnel. Of
course, it's still at the original ground level, but Westfield
bridges over it.

What's interesting is to walk one of the open curved 'streets' in
Westfield, from M&S to the Cow pub (I think this may also be one of
the main routes for spectators walking to the Olympics site from
Stratford station). If you carry a GPS (as I did), you realise that
you're walking directly over the DLR route.

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion, but it's entirely wrong.
The DLR tunnel curves sharply left on leaving platforms 16/17, passing
under M&S, after which it's not under the shopping centre. The line
emerges from the tunnel, facing west, just north of the Aquatics
Centre. At that point it's adjacent to the Overground NLL tracks. You
can see it at the top of the photo at
http://www.london2012.com/photos/201...ics-centre.php
, also on Google maps satellite view.

Looking further at plans I've found on-line, it looks like the
restaurant piazza end of the curved street is over the DLR at the
western edge of Westfield (as my GPS showed), but the more sharply
curved DLR is indeed routed further south, under M&S, rather than just
to its north as I had thought. See p9 and p10 in
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...v9 A35yoD098A

It's interesting how the new LU northern ticket office bridges the DLR
tracks.

If you descend to car park B in the 'basement', you can work out
where the lower level of the car park flanks the line to the north.

The curved wall of the car park does indeed follow the DLR tunnel, but
the DLR is to the *south* of the car park. Have a look at
http://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcit...retailer=45219
and click on Lower Ground Floor. You can see the DLR tunnel next to
the green car park. (Confusingly, the top of the map faces
north-west.)

Yes, as I said, the car park is on the north flank of the DLR 'tunnel'.
In other words, we agree.


I suspect
that if you inspected the walls carefully, you might even find
emergency/maintenance access doors to the line from the service
corridor. Similarly, there are a surprisingly large number of utility
access hatches in the 'ground' of the street above; I assume some
provide access to the DLR line beneath, as well as local utility
services (for example, for a waterless electronic 'fountain').

What surprised me about the DLR tunnel was the lavish provision for
emergency evacuations. We're familiar now with all new tunnels
having a walkway at the side, but this double track tunnel has a
proper (albeit narrow) platform on each side, with a continuous
barrier at the back (clear of the tunnel wall) that incorporates
lighting, plus overhead lighting too.

Yes, I noticed that, too.

Recliner wrote on 17 September 2011
11:32:34 ...
"Richard wrote in message

wrote on 16 September 2011
12:08:41 ...
Yesterday, I took my first trip to Westfield Stratford and the DLR
extension. Here's a few observations:
[snip]

3. Walking the route of the DLR.

When the DLR extension enters Stratford station from the south (using
the former NLL platforms), it's at local ground level. But when it
leaves heading north, it appears to be in a cut and cover tunnel. Of
course, it's still at the original ground level, but Westfield
bridges over it.

What's interesting is to walk one of the open curved 'streets' in
Westfield, from M&S to the Cow pub (I think this may also be one of
the main routes for spectators walking to the Olympics site from
Stratford station). If you carry a GPS (as I did), you realise that
you're walking directly over the DLR route.

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion, but it's entirely wrong.
The DLR tunnel curves sharply left on leaving platforms 16/17, passing
under M&S, after which it's not under the shopping centre. The line
emerges from the tunnel, facing west, just north of the Aquatics
Centre. At that point it's adjacent to the Overground NLL tracks. You
can see it at the top of the photo at
http://www.london2012.com/photos/201...ics-centre.php
, also on Google maps satellite view.

Looking further at plans I've found on-line, it looks like the
restaurant piazza end of the curved street is over the DLR at the
western edge of Westfield (as my GPS showed), but the more sharply
curved DLR is indeed routed further south, under M&S, rather than just
to its north as I had thought. See p9 and p10 in
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...v9 A35yoD098A

Thanks for that link. Westfield are frustratingly reluctant to make
maps of the centre available, same as at Shepherd's Bush. There aren't
any *curved* streets shown leading to the restaurant plaza.

I've now found a photo which proves that you are right (and I was wrong)
about the DLR tunnel continuing underneath the buildings after passing
under M&S. There's a large aerial photo towards the end of
http://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcit...ssue_three.pdf
It shows the west portal of the DLR tunnel, and construction in progress
on top of the tunnel.

It's interesting how the new LU northern ticket office bridges the DLR
tracks.

If you descend to car park B in the 'basement', you can work out
where the lower level of the car park flanks the line to the north.

The curved wall of the car park does indeed follow the DLR tunnel, but
the DLR is to the *south* of the car park. Have a look at
http://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcit...retailer=45219
and click on Lower Ground Floor. You can see the DLR tunnel next to
the green car park. (Confusingly, the top of the map faces
north-west.)

Yes, as I said, the car park is on the north flank of the DLR 'tunnel'.
In other words, we agree.

OK, good. The words you used originally ("the line to the north") gave
me the opposite impression.
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

"Richard J." wrote in message

Recliner wrote on 17 September 2011
11:32:34 ...
"Richard wrote in message

wrote on 16 September 2011
12:08:41 ...
Yesterday, I took my first trip to Westfield Stratford and the DLR
extension. Here's a few observations:
[snip]

3. Walking the route of the DLR.

When the DLR extension enters Stratford station from the south
(using the former NLL platforms), it's at local ground level. But
when it leaves heading north, it appears to be in a cut and cover
tunnel. Of course, it's still at the original ground level, but
Westfield bridges over it.

What's interesting is to walk one of the open curved 'streets' in
Westfield, from M&S to the Cow pub (I think this may also be one of
the main routes for spectators walking to the Olympics site from
Stratford station). If you carry a GPS (as I did), you realise that
you're walking directly over the DLR route.

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion, but it's entirely
wrong. The DLR tunnel curves sharply left on leaving platforms
16/17, passing under M&S, after which it's not under the shopping
centre. The line emerges from the tunnel, facing west, just north
of the Aquatics Centre. At that point it's adjacent to the
Overground NLL tracks. You can see it at the top of the photo at
http://www.london2012.com/photos/201...ics-centre.php
, also on Google maps satellite view.

Looking further at plans I've found on-line, it looks like the
restaurant piazza end of the curved street is over the DLR at the
western edge of Westfield (as my GPS showed), but the more sharply
curved DLR is indeed routed further south, under M&S, rather than
just to its north as I had thought. See p9 and p10 in
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...v9 A35yoD098A

Thanks for that link. Westfield are frustratingly reluctant to make
maps of the centre available, same as at Shepherd's Bush. There
aren't any *curved* streets shown leading to the restaurant plaza.

You're right, the 'street' is actually made up of straight segments, but
it seems curved when you walk it.



I've now found a photo which proves that you are right (and I was
wrong) about the DLR tunnel continuing underneath the buildings after
passing under M&S. There's a large aerial photo towards the end of
http://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcit...ssue_three.pdf
It shows the west portal of the DLR tunnel, and construction in
progress on top of the tunnel.

Thanks, that's interesting.