They've now blocked off the direct link between platforms 15/16 of the
Hammersmith & City / Circle Lines and platforms 13/14 used by the FGW
locals. Indeed they've now demolished the stairs from the old
footbridge down to 15/16.

Now it is not possible to get to the main station concourse from 15/16
except via an unmarked unsignposted convoluted route via the banks of
Paddington Basin on the Grand Uniion Canal. This route is also not
wheelchair user-friendly either. And anyone with luggage will also
have a problem. I'm not sure if its possible to cut through the new
taxi rank above platform 12 - that requires investigation.

To get to 15/16 via the main concourse also requires a convolute route
- which is as yet unsignposted. Indeed all mentions of platforms 15/16
and the Hammersmith & City / Circle Lines have been removed throughout
Paddington. This is confusing for locals and tourists alike; it is as
though the platforms and lines have disappeared for good.
Unfortunately this has also made the use of the Circle / District Line
platforms under the Lawn even more crowded.

To add to the confusion platform 12 remains extremely congested
especially at peak times, now becoming even more so with the arrival
of Olympic athletes on the HEX all trying to get to the taxi rank
above platform 12. The main conflicting flows of pax are those
commuters to/from 13/14 and 12 itself, and all the internationals from
HEX on 6/7/8. They meet just at the end of 12 where there is a extreme
pinch point by the ATM and coffee bar.

This is exacerbated by intending HConn pax also waiting in the same
pinch point area to make sure that the HConn really does depart from
12 (not always the case), and tourists trying to read the network maps
nearby.

CJB.