Denmark Hill station (When is the road ... into Windsor Walk going to reopen?)

[oldie]

When is the road by Denmark Hill Station into Windsor Walk going to reopen. I thought when the building work was completed it was due to open again - what's going on?

[edcam]

They?ve repainted the road markings yet replaced and planted the enormous planters as roadblocks, so who the hell knows? The amount of money that?s been spent in and around that station in the last few years is unimaginable. And none of it is fit for purpose for rail users, drivers or pedestrians. It?s just a racket.

[Earl Aelfheah]

edcam Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> They?ve repainted the road markings yet replaced

> and planted the enormous planters as roadblocks,

> so who the hell knows? The amount of money that?s

> been spent in and around that station in the last

> few years is unimaginable. And none of it is fit

> for purpose for rail users, drivers or

> pedestrians. It?s just a racket.

Couldn't agree more. Millions wasted. It's scandalous

[Zig-Zag]

I received this from work today..."starting Saturday 22 December 2018, Denmark Hill station will be launching a new passenger one-way system to reduce the level of congestion"

Map attached

Q&A

Why are you installing a new one way system?

7,187,152 passengers used the station in 2016/17, an increase of 186,000 from the previous year. Numbers have been increasing year on year for the last five years and passenger congestion, particularly during the peak hours, has become a major concern. During the last passenger count just over 70% of passengers use the old overbridge to access and exit the platforms which creates congestion and results in people missing their trains.

How will this affect me getting onto train?

The new system will make it easier for passengers to access the platforms and board their trains. The system will stop passengers from walking up the stairs onto the old overbridge when they exit their trains which prevents passengers walking down the stairs to reach their trains. Exiting passengers will exit up the stairs on the new footbridge and along the ramp to the side of the station.

How are you letting people know?

A communication campaign is currently underway to let regular passengers know about the new system. Posters are up at the station, leaflets are being distributed at the station and by local businesses and we are emailing all Denmark Hill season ticket holders. The campaign will continue into the New Year as people return from their Christmas break and get used to the new system.

How will this affect people with mobility issues?

Passengers who have mobility issues, who need to use the lift to reach the platform should speak to staff when they arrive at the station. Staff will, whenever possible, escort them down the accessibility ramp, to ensure that they reach their train

Are there any other plans to improve access at the station?

The Council and Network Rail are looking at plans to build a second station entrance on Windsor Walk but this won?t be open until 2020 at the earliest. As passenger numbers increase every year we need to address the congestion now before it gets worse.

[Zig-Zag]

Attached is another very brief doc about the changes at DH station

[jimlad48]

How do they propose to police said one way system? LAst time they tried it failed in a couple of days. I personally plan to ignore it on the grounds that I don't wish to be massively inconvenienced and I suspect most regular users feel the same. I predict a spectacular failure.

[rendelharris]

jimlad48 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How do they propose to police said one way system?

> LAst time they tried it failed in a couple of

> days. I personally plan to ignore it on the

> grounds that I don't wish to be massively

> inconvenienced and I suspect most regular users

> feel the same. I predict a spectacular failure.

Seriously? How is it a "massive" inconvenience to be asked to go down one set of stairs instead of another, when, depending on your preferred waiting spot/train carriage, it might cost you a maximum of twenty extra seconds, if that? It certainly will fail if everyone adopts that attitude, and thus the danger of a catastrophic and possibly fatal crush will remain. While this temporary solution isn't ideal, and the situation it addresses should have been sorted out at the time of refurbishment, it's the most sensible option available at the moment (do you have a better one?).

When you're driving your car, do you go the wrong way up one-way streets on the grounds that it's a "massive inconvenience" to obey the traffic flow regulations? Of course not, that would be insane and put your safety and that of others at risk. So if you don't do it when in a protective metal box, why would you do it in an even more vulnerable and hazardous environment? Totally baffling.

[jimlad48]

The better solution is to spend money and create an extra exit. Until that point, I don't plan to spend extra time stuck in DMK because the railway can't be bothered to spend money.

[rendelharris]

jimlad48 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The better solution is to spend money and create

> an extra exit. Until that point, I don't plan to

> spend extra time stuck in DMK because the railway

> can't be bothered to spend money.

Yes of course it is, and that should be done. Two points though: firstly, as noted above, this system will at most cost you an extra twenty seconds (you possibly may even get in and out of the station quicker as the flow improves, who knows); secondly, if you push against the flow of pedestrians, you are risking causing a serious fall on the stairs (more so as your presence will be unexpected) resulting in potentially life-threatening injuries. I've always thought your posts showed you as a sensible and amiable sort of a cove, I'm quite flabbergasted by this attitude that for the sake of a few seconds (literally) off your transit time you're prepared to put others at risk. Please don't. Leave home/work ten seconds earlier and act responsibly instead.

[bonnierach]

Thank god for this, i?ve Always wondered why this is not in place (the last time they tried to get entering passengers to use the ramps which makes less sense as it will take more time to get to your platform and if you?re in a rush catching a train that is inconvenient. Although I expect it will be ignored and they?ll continue to spend money on staff standing around telling people which way to walk. It?s also a shame that those with mobility issues as well as those with pushchairs trying to access the ramp and lifts to board trains will have to battle with an onslaught of exiting people. I totally fail to understand why they don?t just open an new entrance on the other side of the station!

[jimlad48]

rendelharris Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> jimlad48 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The better solution is to spend money and

> create

> > an extra exit. Until that point, I don't plan

> to

> > spend extra time stuck in DMK because the

> railway

> > can't be bothered to spend money.

>

> Yes of course it is, and that should be done. Two

> points though: firstly, as noted above, this

> system will at most cost you an extra twenty

> seconds (you possibly may even get in and out of

> the station quicker as the flow improves, who

> knows); secondly, if you push against the flow of

> pedestrians, you are risking causing a serious

> fall on the stairs (more so as your presence will

> be unexpected) resulting in potentially

> life-threatening injuries. I've always thought

> your posts showed you as a sensible and amiable

> sort of a cove, I'm quite flabbergasted by this

> attitude that for the sake of a few seconds

> (literally) off your transit time you're prepared

> to put others at risk. Please don't. Leave

> home/work ten seconds earlier and act responsibly

> instead.

Sorry, I should have been clearer - typing in hurry. If it is clear there is enormous flow, or my carriage is next to other steps, thats fine. But if station is dead quiet, or normal use and I am next to the steps - I am not going to inconvenience myself for the sake of poor funding of the station.

There is a wider issue too about use of FCB coffee, as essentially its now blocked off to everyone leaving the station unless they want to walk in a big circle - not sensible or optimal.

[redjam]

They've put 'no exit' signs on all the steps leading out (i.e. the old side of the station) so it's much more visible that there's a one-way system in place; it's not just reliant on one guy standing there shouting and being ignored.

I think it's a good thing they're introducing it - though I totally agree with edcam's post that the whole redesign was an utter balls-up in the first place and it should never have got this bad. We will all get used to making sure we get on our homeward-bound trains much further along the platform, so that when we're exit we're near the end by the new steps. As for FCB coffee, it's not exactly far for people to walk round on their way out, and they do enjoy a prime position for the incoming passengers. So I don't think they'll be much affected.

[edcam]

I went through as usual last night and as redeem says, there are 'no exit' signs on the risers of the old stairways from each platform.

Passengers getting off the trains were completely ignoring them, so that's going well.

[redjam]

Have to admit I ignored the signs yesterday but that was because it was lunchtime and there was no one about, and my feet were already on the first step before I'd registered them. But I will definitely adjust my route in future and I think most people will do as it becomes the norm. Hope so, anyway.

[Peckhampam]

The new system doesn't start till the 22nd

[PeterW]

To go back to the original question, the plan is apparently to keep the planters and thus keep Windsor Walk as access only for cars, not a through road. That makes perfect sense, as it's otherwise a rat run, and sends vehicles through an area often full of pedestrians from the station. I've got no idea why so much time was spent repairing the bridge.

[rendelharris]

PeterW Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> To go back to the original question, the plan is

> apparently to keep the planters and thus keep

> Windsor Walk as access only for cars, not a

> through road. That makes perfect sense, as it's

> otherwise a rat run, and sends vehicles through an

> area often full of pedestrians from the station.

> I've got no idea why so much time was spent

> repairing the bridge.

Excellent news if that's correct Peter, when that turn was open it was an horrendous ratrun, particularly dangerous for the primary school on Grove Lane and infirm/confused patients from the Maudsley. Doubtless cause outrage amongst the "I should be allowed to drive wherever I like" crew, mind.

[sandyman]

Deleted post - not really relevant!

[AylwardS]

Denmark Hill One Way System from 22 December

Thanks Zig-zag.

I only travel through the station on and off and the posters at the station passed me by and I found out about this on another thread.

PLEASE follow the one way system.

Yes the redesign left a lot to be desired.

Yes a new entrance is needed.

Yes whoever is responsible could have done better.

But we need to travel through the station until they get their act together. A one way system may not be ideal but it looks like they?ve learned from the last failed attempt and access to platforms will be quicker. Give it a go, make suggestions for improvements/ report ?inconvenience? supporting a new entrance so those who make the decisions know how pass? are affected. It might work if we all give it a go - it can?t be worse - and the people who make the decisions almost certainly don?t use the station.

I remember my dad telling me that when he first passed his driving test there were no drink driving laws. How many of us just accept that if we take the car out we put our seatbelt on and don?t drink. Sure when these laws came in there were people who were against them.

[Earl Aelfheah]

They're repeating mistakes at ED station. The original station building was reduced in size, with half being sold off. Now it's being knocked down and replaced with new build flats, an M&S and a library. There is no plan for how it will cope with increasing passenger numbers over time and it's easy to see how the narrow walkway down from the platform will become too small to cope in future. All the thinking seems to be about maximising revenue, whilst squeezing passengers.

[Applespider]

I foresee lots of people standing on the footbridge for the trains that regularly have last minute platform changes - so they don?t get caught out trying to do a big loop when the train comes in.

I assume luggage and buggies will be allowed to go the ?wrong? way to access the lifts?

[edcam]

Until they open an exit on to Windsor Walk it will remain a nightmare.

[Applespider]

Experienced the one-way system for the first time today where there was also a platform change. The good news is that they are only enforcing the one way exit when a train actually arrives so if there is a platform change, they will let you go the ?wrong? way.

There was a bit of congestion/confusion today at the bottom of the old footbridge as people got off the train at their ?usual? and hadn?t encountered the change before. Suspect regulars will figure out the carriage for the new exit soon enough and reduce this.

Didn?t seem to do anything to reduce the crowd at the gates though - which isn?t helped outside by the clutter of bins and free mag stands nor by the people pitched immediately outside to hand out magazines or ask for a hand out.

[mancity68]

https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2019/10/31/more-upgrades-for-denmark-hill-station/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklyemailblog

[intexasatthe moment]

That's a great website mancity ,thanks v much for posting .