A large % of staff at a lot of South Eastern stations Ive ever dealt with are ignorant, rude, arrogant, clue
Has anyone gone back via network rail? How can you get into the station? Twitter is just full of angry confused commuters.
The olympics is going to be awful.
Apparently you have to use the main entrance and it is split into 3 lanes. Have to choose a lane depending on what platform you want so a colleague who left earlier has said.
London bridge was predictably a nightmare. You had to go through the barriers on the palace side and walk over the walk way to get to platforms 3 - 6. Felt sorry for the staff as everyone had the ache and it was pissing down. One positive was that the barriers weren't operational so was able to bunk my fare
It wasn't great. You had a small screen to find out where your train was then make a decision as to which platform to head to. I missed 1 train as from jubilee line to platform 5 took too long and then missed the one on platform 1 as went towards the other platform route. This was at 7pm so not that many people but could be carnage at 5. I'll be going home another way.
Oh yeah, and no barrier so welcome to london - travel for free whilst you're here!!!!
Still had the lovely greeting from Boris too. 'This is the big one'
Gotta renew my monthly pass today. Couldn't do it at LB due to the barking staff with megaphones.
It's bizarre how people who use the front entrance to London Bridge every day and get on the same trains on the same platforms are then totally confused when confronted by a line of barriers and 2 signs saying "Platforms 1+2" and "Platforms 3-6". It was hilarious watching people getting stressed demanding to be told how to get to platform 4 as it's "So confusing". Then seeing people going down one lane then deciding they want a different platform so trying to go all the way back against the flow to the front of the station, instead of continuing to the platform then crossing over the footbridge as they've no doubt done countless times before.
Slight deviation in a route people have done thousands of times and they can't cope and loose all power of reasoning. But then if things aren't changed and something goes wrong, they will then moan about that. The public are idiots as anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with them knows all too well.
It's bizarre how people who use the front entrance to London Bridge every day and get on the same trains on the same platforms are then totally confused when confronted by a line of barriers and 2 signs saying "Platforms 1+2" and "Platforms 3-6". It was hilarious watching people getting stressed demanding to be told how to get to platform 4 as it's "So confusing". Then seeing people going down one lane then deciding they want a different platform so trying to go all the way back against the flow to the front of the station, instead of continuing to the platform then crossing over the footbridge as they've no doubt done countless times before.
Slight deviation in a route people have done thousands of times and they can't cope and loose all power of reasoning. But then if things aren't changed and something goes wrong, they will then moan about that. The public are idiots as anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with them knows all too well.
I thought there was going to be a rehearsal at charin x. Turns out nothing happened and I just walked straight through the barriers and onto my train as normal
It's bizarre how people who use the front entrance to London Bridge every day and get on the same trains on the same platforms are then totally confused when confronted by a line of barriers and 2 signs saying "Platforms 1+2" and "Platforms 3-6". It was hilarious watching people getting stressed demanding to be told how to get to platform 4 as it's "So confusing". Then seeing people going down one lane then deciding they want a different platform so trying to go all the way back against the flow to the front of the station, instead of continuing to the platform then crossing over the footbridge as they've no doubt done countless times before.
Slight deviation in a route people have done thousands of times and they can't cope and loose all power of reasoning. But then if things aren't changed and something goes wrong, they will then moan about that. The public are idiots as anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with them knows all too well.
if you can go to platform 1&2 and 3&6 once you get through the channel, then why not just let everyone go down either channel ??
if you got to to the footbridge and you couldn't change to another platform, someone in a high vis might tell you to go back to the front of the station and start again, so perhaps that's why people had to think about their journey that they've been making for 30 years automatically.
also there are people that live in places in Kent and South East London where they can get trains from multiple platforms depending on the time, so perhaps they were trying to work out their options for that? I know that i can get trains from 1, 2, 4 or 5 within a 15 minute period.
Not good. Yesterday with most Londoners having a fair idea about what trains they needed to get on there was mass confusion, as you have to pick whether you go for the low number platforms or the high number platforms without being able to see the boards. When people who have never been through the station are thrown into the mix, it will be catastrophic. Imagine that you were somewhere like Barcelona and you had one-time choice over which part of a station you were going to based on a bloke bellowing "Platforms 1-6 left 8-16 right", in Spansh. With no idea where your destination was departing from you'd struggle. Several times I saw people going the wrong-way back down the narrow one way lanes, due to having picked incorrectly, it'll be that x100 when you replace seasoned commuters with visitors. Better leaving it alone.
Cannon Street was a doddle. As they have tarted up the station and the entrances are quite large, you go in one and out another. Hoping that we will be going against the main flow of traffic during the times I will be there.
I hope its clear on the spectators tickets that are attending Greenwich Park that the best station is Maze Hill and not Greenwich itself? Unless of course you can only enter the other side of the park?
Cannon Street was a doddle. As they have tarted up the station and the entrances are quite large, you go in one and out another. Hoping that we will be going against the main flow of traffic during the times I will be there.
I hope its clear on the spectators tickets that are attending Greenwich Park that the best station is Maze Hill and not Greenwich itself? Unless of course you can only enter the other side of the park?
Blackheath is where they will be told to go for the park if going by train, I have been told. Charlton the O2 and Woolwich A for the Shooting.
they are construction a large footbridge over the A2 on the Heath, and an additional one at Blackheath station - suffice to say the latter looks minging
Cannon Street was a doddle. As they have tarted up the station and the entrances are quite large, you go in one and out another. Hoping that we will be going against the main flow of traffic during the times I will be there.
I hope its clear on the spectators tickets that are attending Greenwich Park that the best station is Maze Hill and not Greenwich itself? Unless of course you can only enter the other side of the park?
Blackheath is where they will be told to go for the park if going by train, I have been told. Charlton the O2 and Woolwich A for the Shooting.
To take the pressure off the Woolwich line then? seems a bit out of the way tho.
As @Razil pointed out they have built (building still perhaps) the ramps that are needed to make the walk from Blackheath station. Maze Hill access (the closest station to the park) is not able to cope with the expected numbers where as Blackheath has the car park and then the heath too still-over into. Greenwich as you point out is not great as well as the walk would be for a long time around busy roads. The only real pinch point at Blackheath as I see it is when turning left out of the car park and going past the first 5 to 10 shops before the pavement opens out.
A message for motorists from Rick's Brother and Paul's Uncle:
Dear Ms,
I am writing to remind you about the sporting events which will be held across London’s road network on the first few days of the Games.
Don’t get caught out
Motorists should avoid driving in central London and around Games venues from 15 July and be aware that Olympic Route Network (ORN) restrictions apply from 25 July. On road event days, road closures will be in place from early morning and you will not be able to drive close to or across the race routes. If you intend to travel in the area, you are strongly advised to plan ahead.
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July The Men’s and Women’s Cycling Road Races will run from central London to Box Hill, Surrey and back, via Fulham, Putney, Richmond, Hampton Court, Weybridge, Woking, Dorking, Leatherhead, Esher and Kingston.
Road closures will apply from 0300. The ORN will operate during this event. Some parts of the ORN will be closed and an alternative ORN route will be in place.
To watch our video explaining where and how the ORN and Games Lanes operate and for details of the ORN on road event days, please click here
Wednesday 1 August
The Men’s and Women’s Road Cycling Time Trials will start and finish at Hampton Court Palace, passing through East Molesey, West Molesey, Thames Ditton, Esher, Whiteley Village, Hinchley Wood, Surbiton, Kingston, Hampton Wick and Teddington. Road closures will apply from 0530.
For more information on Cycling road events, including times and race routes to avoid, please click here
Yours sincerely,
Vernon Everitt Managing Director, Marketing and Communications
Olympic Travel London Bridge Station 30 July - will be extremely busy due to an Equestrian event at Greenwich Park. On Mon 30Jul from 1800pm to 2200pm passengers will not be able to access platforms 1-6 to board SouthEastern or First Capital Connect services. Passengers are advised to use alternative stations such as Cannon Street, Charing Cross & Blackfriars. Southern services from Platforms 8-16 are not affected. For the latest news and information during the Olympics please refer to Get Ahead of the Games
That's from 6pm. I'm changing working hours to 7.30 - 4.30pm so hopefully will miss that, plus I'm probably going to try to avoid Jubilee line in the evenings and travel via Bakerloo.
Olympic Travel London Bridge Station 30 July - will be extremely busy due to an Equestrian event at Greenwich Park. On Mon 30Jul from 1800pm to 2200pm passengers will not be able to access platforms 1-6 to board SouthEastern or First Capital Connect services. Passengers are advised to use alternative stations such as Cannon Street, Charing Cross & Blackfriars. Southern services from Platforms 8-16 are not affected. For the latest news and information during the Olympics please refer to Get Ahead of the Games
Where did that communication come from CI? The useless getaheadofthegames site is still saying it's exit only, but can't see how it could be.
Comments
Big thanks to @Strasburger for his excellent assistance and also to @suzisausage about exiting London Bridge via the new concourse :-)
Oh yeah, and no barrier so welcome to london - travel for free whilst you're here!!!!
Still had the lovely greeting from Boris too. 'This is the big one'
Gotta renew my monthly pass today. Couldn't do it at LB due to the barking staff with megaphones.
Slight deviation in a route people have done thousands of times and they can't cope and loose all power of reasoning. But then if things aren't changed and something goes wrong, they will then moan about that. The public are idiots as anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with them knows all too well.
if you got to to the footbridge and you couldn't change to another platform, someone in a high vis might tell you to go back to the front of the station and start again, so perhaps that's why people had to think about their journey that they've been making for 30 years automatically.
also there are people that live in places in Kent and South East London where they can get trains from multiple platforms depending on the time, so perhaps they were trying to work out their options for that? I know that i can get trains from 1, 2, 4 or 5 within a 15 minute period.
I hope its clear on the spectators tickets that are attending Greenwich Park that the best station is Maze Hill and not Greenwich itself? Unless of course you can only enter the other side of the park?
Dear Ms,
I am writing to remind you about the sporting events which will be held across London’s road network on the first few days of the Games.
Don’t get caught out
Motorists should avoid driving in central London and around Games venues from 15 July and be aware that Olympic Route Network (ORN) restrictions apply from 25 July. On road event days, road closures will be in place from early morning and you will not be able to drive close to or across the race routes. If you intend to travel in the area, you are strongly advised to plan ahead.
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July
The Men’s and Women’s Cycling Road Races will run from central London to Box Hill, Surrey and back, via Fulham, Putney, Richmond, Hampton Court, Weybridge, Woking, Dorking, Leatherhead, Esher and Kingston.
Road closures will apply from 0300. The ORN will operate during this event. Some parts of the ORN will be closed and an alternative ORN route will be in place.
To watch our video explaining where and how the ORN and Games Lanes operate and for details of the ORN on road event days, please click here
Wednesday 1 August
The Men’s and Women’s Road Cycling Time Trials will start and finish at Hampton Court Palace, passing through East Molesey, West Molesey, Thames Ditton, Esher, Whiteley Village, Hinchley Wood, Surbiton, Kingston, Hampton Wick and Teddington. Road closures will apply from 0530.
For more information on Cycling road events, including times and race routes to avoid, please click here
Yours sincerely,
Vernon Everitt
Managing Director, Marketing and Communications
Olympic Travel
London Bridge Station
30 July - will be extremely busy due to an Equestrian event at Greenwich Park. On Mon 30Jul from 1800pm to 2200pm passengers will not be able to access platforms 1-6 to board SouthEastern or First Capital Connect services. Passengers are advised to use alternative stations such as Cannon Street, Charing Cross & Blackfriars. Southern services from Platforms 8-16 are not affected. For the latest news and information during the Olympics please refer to Get Ahead of the Games