London Paddington Shenanigans
 

On Jul 10, 9:52*am, CJB wrote:
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.

Brunel turns in his grave. But given the way Paddington has been
abused, Brunel the younger has turned in his grave for some years.

London Paddington Shenanigans
 

On 10 Jul., 13:07, 77002 wrote:

Brunel turns in his grave. *But given the way Paddington has been
abused, Brunel the younger has turned in his grave for some years.-

I guess the use of that coal-cart gauge is enough for him to turn.

Can it get any worse than that?

London Paddington Shenanigans
 

On Jul 10, 2:53*pm, amogles wrote:
On 10 Jul., 13:07, 77002 wrote:



Brunel turns in his grave. *But given the way Paddington has been
abused, Brunel the younger has turned in his grave for some years.-

I guess the use of that coal-cart gauge is enough for him to turn.

Can it get any worse than that?

And the severe congestion of conflicting passenger flows along
platform 12 is excerbated by the placing of billboards apologising for
the disruption and numerous rainwater drip buckets in the way of
passengers trying to pass along it.

And I'm not sure what they're doing to the vaulted roof above 12
either. It leaks like a sieve and the soak / trip carpets below it
look a real mess - but they have been a permanent feature of
Paddington for years.

And the old arches 1-2-3 still leak when it rains. It is interesting
that the open display of sticky sweets by the Kingdon of Sweets
francise is also situated under one of the old leaky arches, with
pigeons perching directly above the stall. A few weeks ago I saw a
pigeon actually land on the edge of the stall. Kingdon of Sweets and
pigeon sh$t - wonderful welcome to London for HEX pax.

CJB.