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Post by vjaska on Oct 27, 2016 12:15:48 GMT
I think redevelopment was probably stretching it. My understanding was that there was a sum of money (£5m?) in the franchise earmarked for Barking. In such a large station that won't go very far really. Might buy you some rationalisation of space on the platforms and a lick of paint but that's it. Securing a large increase in circulation / gateline space and more stairs or escalators to the platforms is probably needed but very expensive as it would involve an extended deck etc. I've not seen Barking in the AM peak but I imagine it's nightmarish. I have waited for a GOBLIN on platform 7 in the PM peak and that was very busy indeed. The stairs to platforms 5 and 6 (westbound District/Hot & Cold/c2c) are the main pinch points in the morning peak. It functions OK as a station, but there's not much space to do anything to improve passenger flows. c2c tried to make the staircases one way with no entry/entry signage painted on the floors but everybody ignored them. In an attempt to improve passenger flows getting on to the trains, the stopping position for 4 and 8 car trains has changed on platform 5, with the middle of the train being in line with the bottom of the stairs rather than the rear carriage I also found the signage at the station to be very poor and unclear - my first visit had me confused what stopped at which platform. *Now awaits someone to tell me how thick I am and how clear the signage is* lol.
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Post by ThinLizzy on Oct 27, 2016 12:21:00 GMT
The stairs to platforms 5 and 6 (westbound District/Hot & Cold/c2c) are the main pinch points in the morning peak. It functions OK as a station, but there's not much space to do anything to improve passenger flows. c2c tried to make the staircases one way with no entry/entry signage painted on the floors but everybody ignored them. In an attempt to improve passenger flows getting on to the trains, the stopping position for 4 and 8 car trains has changed on platform 5, with the middle of the train being in line with the bottom of the stairs rather than the rear carriage I also found the signage at the station to be very poor and unclear - my first visit had me confused what stopped at which platform. *Now awaits someone to tell me how thick I am and how clear the signage is* lol. I agree, the signage could be a bit clearer, particularly at concourse level. It's not really helped by the physical layout of the platforms.
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Post by snoggle on Oct 27, 2016 12:25:03 GMT
c2c tried to make the staircases one way with no entry/entry signage painted on the floors but everybody ignored them. In an attempt to improve passenger flows getting on to the trains, the stopping position for 4 and 8 car trains has changed on platform 5, with the middle of the train being in line with the bottom of the stairs rather than the rear carriage Greater Anglia have done that at T Hale. If you are heading to the s/b platform you're "guided" to keep left. The only problem is if a train has already arrived s/b and decanted its passengers you are met with a huge wave of people heading straight at you on the stairs / bridge as they merrily ignore the signage! It would work marginally better if it was signed as "keep right" as you have to be on the right hand side of the bridge to access the stairs down to the platform.
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Post by enviroPB on Oct 27, 2016 17:03:06 GMT
The stairs to platforms 5 and 6 (westbound District/Hot & Cold/c2c) are the main pinch points in the morning peak. It functions OK as a station, but there's not much space to do anything to improve passenger flows. c2c tried to make the staircases one way with no entry/entry signage painted on the floors but everybody ignored them. In an attempt to improve passenger flows getting on to the trains, the stopping position for 4 and 8 car trains has changed on platform 5, with the middle of the train being in line with the bottom of the stairs rather than the rear carriage I also found the signage at the station to be very poor and unclear - my first visit had me confused what stopped at which platform. *Now awaits someone to tell me how thick I am and how clear the signage is* lol. I get confused daily! Lool. c2c westbound services depart from different sets of platform as well as westbound services from the District line calling at platform 3a as well as platform 6. So yeah, Barking station is not the most straighforward place in the world.
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Post by Alex on Oct 27, 2016 17:18:56 GMT
*Now awaits someone to tell me how thick I am and how clear the signage is* lol. No, it's not you - the station is a bit strange to be honest, seems like one of those cluttered up places. With those horrible steps which are easy to trip up on (and a step free access route which only the very fit would have a chance at if they needed anywhere but platforms 1 & 2)....... Actually I found the whole 'EL1/EL2' thing confusing - I haven't used buses in east London much, when my other half and I were on our way to Ilford, the map at Barking Station said both routes still went there.....so off we trotted onto an EL2 (I'll admit Becontree Heath on the blind did make me wonder, but I distantly recalled something on here about it so thought "it must be ok").....I only realised what had happened when we passed Barking Garage. Fortunately a 145 wasn't far away heading in the other direction to save the day. It wasn't the best communicated change......I'd imagine quite a few have been caught out.
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Post by john on Oct 27, 2016 20:30:36 GMT
See the last i heard about Barking was that the road outside was to become a bus/taxi carriageway only from Longbridge Road upwards. All I can say is that something is desperately need to improve traffic flow there. I can arrive at Barking driving a 287 pretty much on time at "Barking Town Centre" and then be 10 minutes late once I'm on the stand at Barking Station. That says everything
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Oct 27, 2016 22:16:07 GMT
See the last i heard about Barking was that the road outside was to become a bus/taxi carriageway only from Longbridge Road upwards. All I can say is that something is desperately need to improve traffic flow there. I can arrive at Barking driving a 287 pretty much on time at "Barking Town Centre" and then be 10 minutes late once I'm on the stand at Barking Station. That says everything The terrible traffic light phasing there doesn't help as well as the two zebra crossings. I think the turn from Cambridge Road should really be a Pelican crossing. It also doesn't help where at the roundabout vehicles leaving Station Parade generally get blocked by the cars stuck in traffic on the Northern Relief Road. Not to mention the lights at the roundabout need rephrasing as well, many times the lights at Fanshawe Avenue are green while the traffic lights at the junction of Longbridge Road are red, meaning that there isn't much space for vehicles to leave Fanshawe avenue. The whole situation is made worse when the area is filled with replacement buses on weekdays and I doubt it will be helped when longer LTs start to take to the roads. The area was not designed to take as many vehicles as it handles. I doubt they'll make Station Parade bus and taxi only as the entrance to the Vicarage Field Car Park is on that road. Another problem is is that when a line of 238/287s are on stand and an EL1/366/169 is picking up at its stop, the road becomes too narrow for two way traffic. That also needs a good looking at. Personally I think that the road which currently has all the taxi stands on it (forgot its name LOL ) should be blocked off, and the current bus stop on the forecourt of the station extended so that it can take two bus stops.
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Post by john on Oct 28, 2016 6:15:37 GMT
See the last i heard about Barking was that the road outside was to become a bus/taxi carriageway only from Longbridge Road upwards. All I can say is that something is desperately need to improve traffic flow there. I can arrive at Barking driving a 287 pretty much on time at "Barking Town Centre" and then be 10 minutes late once I'm on the stand at Barking Station. That says everything The terrible traffic light phasing there doesn't help as well as the two zebra crossings. I think the turn from Cambridge Road should really be a Pelican crossing. It also doesn't help where at the roundabout vehicles leaving Station Parade generally get blocked by the cars stuck in traffic on the Northern Relief Road. Not to mention the lights at the roundabout need rephrasing as well, many times the lights at Fanshawe Avenue are green while the traffic lights at the junction of Longbridge Road are red, meaning that there isn't much space for vehicles to leave Fanshawe avenue. The whole situation is made worse when the area is filled with replacement buses on weekdays and I doubt it will be helped when longer LTs start to take to the roads. The area was not designed to take as many vehicles as it handles. I doubt they'll make Station Parade bus and taxi only as the entrance to the Vicarage Field Car Park is on that road. Another problem is is that when a line of 238/287s are on stand and an EL1/366/169 is picking up at its stop, the road becomes too narrow for two way traffic. That also needs a good looking at. Personally I think that the road which currently has all the taxi stands on it (forgot its name LOL ) should be blocked off, and the current bus stop on the forecourt of the station extended so that it can take two bus stops. Yeah us and the 238s do cause a mess at times down there but it generally isn't helped by the atandard of driving by some buses and all the cars along there too. As for the zebra crossings, yes get rid of both and install one pelican crossing to ease traffic. Although, if I'm honest, I prefer Barking to the Abbey Wood end of the 287!!
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Post by ThinLizzy on Oct 28, 2016 18:14:47 GMT
The terrible traffic light phasing there doesn't help as well as the two zebra crossings. I think the turn from Cambridge Road should really be a Pelican crossing. It also doesn't help where at the roundabout vehicles leaving Station Parade generally get blocked by the cars stuck in traffic on the Northern Relief Road. Not to mention the lights at the roundabout need rephrasing as well, many times the lights at Fanshawe Avenue are green while the traffic lights at the junction of Longbridge Road are red, meaning that there isn't much space for vehicles to leave Fanshawe avenue. The whole situation is made worse when the area is filled with replacement buses on weekdays and I doubt it will be helped when longer LTs start to take to the roads. The area was not designed to take as many vehicles as it handles. I doubt they'll make Station Parade bus and taxi only as the entrance to the Vicarage Field Car Park is on that road. Another problem is is that when a line of 238/287s are on stand and an EL1/366/169 is picking up at its stop, the road becomes too narrow for two way traffic. That also needs a good looking at. Personally I think that the road which currently has all the taxi stands on it (forgot its name LOL ) should be blocked off, and the current bus stop on the forecourt of the station extended so that it can take two bus stops. Yeah us and the 238s do cause a mess at times down there but it generally isn't helped by the atandard of driving by some buses and all the cars along there too. As for the zebra crossings, yes get rid of both and install one pelican crossing to ease traffic. Although, if I'm honest, I prefer Barking to the Abbey Wood end of the 287!! At least you can get a cuppa from the Café at the Barking end. Perhaps the way to solve the problems at Barking Station would be to extend the 287 up to Barking Garage
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Post by john on Oct 28, 2016 19:33:29 GMT
Yeah us and the 238s do cause a mess at times down there but it generally isn't helped by the atandard of driving by some buses and all the cars along there too. As for the zebra crossings, yes get rid of both and install one pelican crossing to ease traffic. Although, if I'm honest, I prefer Barking to the Abbey Wood end of the 287!! At least you can get a cuppa from the Café at the Barking end. Perhaps the way to solve the problems at Barking Station would be to extend the 287 up to Barking Garage I had wondered why they never considered the 287 to Becontree Heath but assume the length of the route would be am issue. Barking Garage could work though, it used to terminate there years ago anyway!! Also don't think it will be long until it becomes a headway route, just every 12, if the Barking redevelopment all goes to plan.
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Post by ThinLizzy on Oct 28, 2016 20:24:44 GMT
At least you can get a cuppa from the Café at the Barking end. Perhaps the way to solve the problems at Barking Station would be to extend the 287 up to Barking Garage I had wondered why they never considered the 287 to Becontree Heath but assume the length of the route would be am issue. Barking Garage could work though, it used to terminate there years ago anyway!! Also don't think it will be long until it becomes a headway route, just every 12, if the Barking redevelopment all goes to plan. It used to run all the way up to Becontree Heath, then on further to Marks Gate via Whalebone Lane. I like the idea of the 287 coming up Longbridge Road though
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Post by john on Oct 29, 2016 15:48:52 GMT
I had wondered why they never considered the 287 to Becontree Heath but assume the length of the route would be am issue. Barking Garage could work though, it used to terminate there years ago anyway!! Also don't think it will be long until it becomes a headway route, just every 12, if the Barking redevelopment all goes to plan. It used to run all the way up to Becontree Heath, then on further to Marks Gate via Whalebone Lane. I like the idea of the 287 coming up Longbridge Road though Sitting there today, something needs doing about Barking Station asap. I come in and nothing was on the stand so went around. As I waited at Longbridge Road, a 238 arrived. As I got on the stand, a dead 238 arrived too, just as the terminated one was waiting at the lights. Basically, 3 buses on the stand FACING the station. Honestly, I think both stands should be outright designated now. Let the 238 go round the roundabout and stand and let the 287 take the stand before. If it isn't sorted beforehand, it's going to be mayhem when the ELT LT's arrive. Saying that, could add a little quirk and number them in the ELT range
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Oct 29, 2016 16:09:45 GMT
It used to run all the way up to Becontree Heath, then on further to Marks Gate via Whalebone Lane. I like the idea of the 287 coming up Longbridge Road though Sitting there today, something needs doing about Barking Station asap. I come in and nothing was on the stand so went around. As I waited at Longbridge Road, a 238 arrived. As I got on the stand, a dead 238 arrived too, just as the terminated one was waiting at the lights. Basically, 3 buses on the stand FACING the station. Honestly, I think both stands should be outright designated now. Let the 238 go round the roundabout and stand and let the 287 take the stand before. If it isn't sorted beforehand, it's going to be mayhem when the ELT LT's arrive. Saying that, could add a little quirk and number them in the ELT range In such situations it doesn't help that the only option for buses is to block the road if a situation like what you described takes place, I see it far too often (mostly when I least need it to happen ). I agree with designating the stands. Another problem in the area is that the stop where the 5/366/238 serve towards Barking Town Centre is far too small from my experience, 5s usually arrive in twos or threes during the peak and they spend quite some time at the stop alighting people. The stop can only take two buses and this isn't helped when a 366 comes to join the party and a 238 departs stand as well. Similar also happens at the stop where the ELT/62/368/287/387 stop (although far less frequently). It's not going to be helped when the LTs come either. It's amazing to think back in 2012 all the routes that served Barking Station would share the same stop, today that would be a complete nightmare.
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Post by ThinLizzy on Oct 29, 2016 17:10:11 GMT
Sitting there today, something needs doing about Barking Station asap. I come in and nothing was on the stand so went around. As I waited at Longbridge Road, a 238 arrived. As I got on the stand, a dead 238 arrived too, just as the terminated one was waiting at the lights. Basically, 3 buses on the stand FACING the station. Honestly, I think both stands should be outright designated now. Let the 238 go round the roundabout and stand and let the 287 take the stand before. If it isn't sorted beforehand, it's going to be mayhem when the ELT LT's arrive. Saying that, could add a little quirk and number them in the ELT range In such situations it doesn't help that the only option for buses is to block the road if a situation like what you described takes place, I see it far too often (mostly when I least need it to happen ). I agree with designating the stands. Another problem in the area is that the stop where the 5/366/238 serve towards Barking Town Centre is far too small from my experience, 5s usually arrive in twos or threes during the peak and they spend quite some time at the stop alighting people. The stop can only take two buses and this isn't helped when a 366 comes to join the party and a 238 departs stand as well. Similar also happens at the stop where the ELT/62/368/287/387 stop (although far less frequently). It's not going to be helped when the LTs come either. It's amazing to think back in 2012 all the routes that served Barking Station would share the same stop, today that would be a complete nightmare. that stop is a nightmare in the mornings, trying to join the "queue" (more rugby scrum" trying to get on the 366 to Beckton whilst 2 5s tip out people all walking into each other on that narrow pavement (with a 169 waiting to join the party.) The stop has been a problem ever since the 287 was curtailed at Barking Station and the 368 was first introduced in 1994 (?) with Mercedes minibuses- even back then one could often be parked as far back as the roundabout. Maybe extend the 287 round to Barking Tesco so it has a useful bus link- there's already a very small bus stop in the car park that was used many years ago by the free bus. Going back to the EL changes (and backish on topic), there seems to be a never ending stream of people that need to use the EL1 from Barking to Ilford nowdays, even more than used to use the 369.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Oct 29, 2016 17:40:03 GMT
that stop is a nightmare in the mornings, trying to join the "queue" (more rugby scrum" trying to get on the 366 to Beckton whilst 2 5s tip out people all walking into each other on that narrow pavement (with a 169 waiting to join the party.) The stop has been a problem ever since the 287 was curtailed at Barking Station and the 368 was first introduced in 1994 (?) with Mercedes minibuses- even back then one could often be parked as far back as the roundabout. Maybe extend the 287 round to Barking Tesco so it has a useful bus link- there's already a very small bus stop in the car park that was used many years ago by the free bus. Going back to the EL changes (and backish on topic), there seems to be a never ending stream of people that need to use the EL1 from Barking to Ilford nowdays, even more than used to use the 369. I agree with the 287 going around to Barking Tesco, it would provide a useful link as well as freeing up some stand space. With all this proposed redevelopment around Vicarage Field, hopefully they use the opportunity to put a bus station in the area as the frequencies of routes in the area aren't going to be going down anytime soon and the popularity of the routes is just likely to increase. The EL1 has a similar issue at Ilford in the evening peak. Half the time an EL1 can't leave until another EL1 pulls up behind due to the never ending stream of people, just for the cycle to repeat itself again and again. It's going to be a complete nightmare with LTs, I wish luck to the drivers judging when it's right to close each door, especially the rear one. I also wouldn't be surprised to see if the routes start to conjure up even more useage when people discover that getting on an EL2 or EL1 over a 5 or 169 will be slightly cheaper.
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