If the prevarication on reinstating arch 4 hasn't been enough over the
last 20+ years, hapless commuters are now in for a treat. Yet more
rebuilding works for CrossRail will cause chaos at not only Paddington
but every station on the GW main line between London and Reading.

At Paddington the re-siting of the taxi rank - kind of above platform
12 and ONLY accessible from platform 12 - means that at peak times
there will be two large opposing flows of passengers. These a

1/ those from HEX on platforms 6 & 7 plus Intercities from platforms 1
through to 10 - mostly all with luggage - trying to get past the
narrow pinch-point at the head of platform 12 to get to the new lifts
and escalators beside 12 to get to the taxis.

2/ Those arriving on platforms 13 & 14 and on 12 itself - trying to
get past the same pinch-point but in the opposite direction.

At the same pinch-point to make matters worse there is a coffee bar,
bank ATMs and now a Cornish pasty outlet. In that area there is also
the storage area for the food outlets so large containers on wheels
also traverse the same area.

At least they've done away with the need to touch-in and touch-out to
catch the HCon. Free rides for all on that - except when they bother
to check the tickets on board - an increasingly rare occurance now-a-
days.

CJB..