It will come as no surprise to many to hear that there is a massive refurbishment programme underway, at present, at many London Underground stations. I frequently travel through South Ruislip and Northolt stations at the west end of the Central Line, both of which have been receiving the Metronet treatment for a significant number of months.
As part of the refurbishments, both stations have had new waiting rooms installed. This are glass enclosures (a bit like rectangular goldfish bowls) with draught holes at the bottom, no ceilings, lockable doors, seats and infra-red heaters.
These waiting rooms/ shelters appear to have been finished for at least two months. Indeed at Northolt back in February I saw the heating belting out heat one cold day. Maybe it was for a squirrel party, or something, because the door was locked. The doors have always been locked. That is, until this week when I saw people in the waiting room at South Ruislip. Just as the cold weather seems to have gone.
I have yet to see the doors to the waiting room at Northolt actually unlocked. Perhaps by the time the temperature reaches tropical numbers in August someone will decide that toasted passengers are preferable to mildly defrosted ones.
Hmmm... I bet it's all down to the contracts.
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2 comments:
Don't worry, if it's anything like my own refrub, it will run at east a year behind schedule.
My own station was supposed to be completed in April 2006, how ever work still carries on.
Apparently the station has just been handed over at Parctical Completion so only another 16 weeks of contractors to go.
Yeah right.
The question is, will that nice Mr Brown ever admit in public that the way the PPP system was inflicted on the London Underground was a shambles?
Mind you the last lot totally messed up rail privatisation.
CU
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