On Feb 15, 6:06*pm, "Richard J." wrote:
Paul Scott wrote on 15 February 2012
17:02:44 ...

*wrote in message
....
...And there a\re no touch-in touch-out barriers
for platform 12 so CJB is right in one thing you can now ride the
Connect for free. Definitely a zero lose - lose situation for
everyone. SB.

Just like CJB then, you don't expect the pretty obvious barrier line you
walked past to be brought into service?
WTF is it there for if it isn't getting installed?

I'm not sure which barrier line you're talking about. *There are some
unused gates near the buffer stops, but I don't see how they can be used
to control access to platforms 12-14 as the area needs to be available
to passengers heading for the taxi rank.

See map from the HEx website athttp://www.heathrowexpress.com/Images/Paddington_Cross_web.jpg

It really needs the buffer stops for platforms 11 & 12 moving down to
create a wider pedestrian route, if the current rolling stock can fit
into a shorter platform.
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

On that HEX map it is where the small 12 is marked that the major
pinch point occurs. This is where there a

1/ supporting pillars for the roof (road) above
2/ a coffee bar and seating
3/ two ATMs
4/ roller doors into a major storage area
5/ other access doors

And the area is littered with gauze covered water buckets because the
roof still leaks when it rains

Near this pinch-point there is also:

6/ a new Cornish pasty shop
7/ the entrance to the Bakerloo line

At this pinch-point there will be three major conflicting streams of
passengers:

a/ those to/from HEX as per the image above - confused tourists
b/ those going to/from HConn on platform 12
c/ those going to/from platforms 13 / 14 - mainly commuters

Moving the ends of platforms 12 and 11 further away from the Praed
Street entrance isn't an option. There are two huge ex-GWR hydraulic
buffers there. I would guess that they are listed fixtures.

The diagonal gate-line half-way down platform 12 is obviously for
those using platforms 13 and 14; and it rather cleverly directs these
commuters directly into the paths of those tourists going to/from the
escaltors and lifts for the taxi rank. However it does not control
passengers arriving on HConn. Which is probably why they haven't been
commissioned.

Having a dividing barrier - presumably glass - down the length of
platform 12 would only leave a very narrow path along the edge of
platform 12 for passengers to/from HConn - hardly meeting health and
safety requirements.

As I said the confusion and chaos continues ...

CJB.