They've installed a section of canopy at the south end of P3/4. It's the same hight as the old one but extends a little further south. Judging by the finish on the north edge of the new canopy and the posts at the north end of the platform, they will be replacing the whole of the canopy. T

I'm very surprised by this. I didn't think they would be replacing the whole of the canopy with one just as big.

I think the new one looks really good and is a big improvement on the old one. Hopefully it'll look even better once they've tidied the wiring away and fitted the lighting to it properly.

Word of warning. I got back to the carpark at 21:30 to find it closing. A guy took the number of my car and said that the car park closed at 21:00 on Fridays. He said that there were notices up about it, but I checked and couldn't find any.

jaf Wrote:Word of warning. I got back to the carpark at 21:30 to find it closing. A guy took the number of my car and said that the car park closed at 21:00 on Fridays. He said that there were notices up about it, but I checked and couldn't find any.

Just to clarify, this happened on a Friday night?

I don't know why he had to take your number plate down. Sounds weird to me!

The communications about this have been poor, we're all discussing it because we don't know what's happening, and when, and what the end result will look like!

I use the footpath alongside the railway line which has been closed at weekends during some of the works. A courtesy notice somewhere a few days before would have been nice but the first thing you find is when you've got all the way to the car park to find a fence erected across the end. Apparently there was a sign but the caring yoof of today have thrown it over the fence onto the railway...

I notice a lot of other work going on, new shelters, new doors and stuff have been fitted also. Hopefully they're going to resurface the car park once all the heavy plant that's damaged it has gone!

anyone know if they are replacing the waiting rooms ?

Alice,

Yes that happened on Friday at 9:30pm. Seemed off to me too. Getting stuck in the car park would have been bad enough, getting a ticket too would just be rubbing salt into the wounds.

Mungroo,

They haven't touched the structures under the canopy. The completed canopy on 3/4 has a kink halfway along where it rises up to clear the structures, so I doubt they will remove them. They have also added what looks like small shelters to the north of both platforms.

There are signs on the bays next to the staff parking bays saying do not leave your cars there if you expect to back after 2100 fridays as the car will have been removed. Other than that I can't see any signs saying not to park anywhere else. Those spaces are the ones people pay extra to park in, the elite gold parking whatever you call it when people can't be bothered to walk a few feet.

slimgym Wrote:Hopefully they're going to resurface the car park once all the heavy plant that's damaged it has gone!

Perhaps at the same time they'll sort out the drains that they've poured wet concrete into as well......

FCC Contacted me finally on Friday.

Quote:As you will be aware the canopy on Platform 3 and 4 has now been installed. Furthermore 50% of the work is complete on the canopy on Platform 1/2. The Northbound side is being done this weekend. The conopy project is due to finish at the end of this month. A further four weekends in June are being used to undertake lighting and cable managment works.

This will impact on the train service and a replacement bus service will be in operation. Full details of disruption with alternative timetables is available on our website at http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk.

The remaining work to be performed over the next 4 weekends:-

• Replacement of new lighting and services to the steel framce canopy
• Replacement of all doors and windows to the platform buildings
• Replacement of light fittings within both station platform buildings
• New external cladding to both platform buildings
• Upgrading platform end lighting column luminaries
• Upgrading station car park lighting column luminaries with proposed additional lighting at pay meters
  

In addition, a copy of a press release made to local media and user groups follows:-

First Capital Connect Wrote:POTTERS BAR STATION TO BENEFIT FROM FACELIFT

Potters Bar station is to benefit from a £2.5million face lift. Network Rail will next month begin work to replace the two long canopies which stand over the platforms as well as a raft of improvements to the station buildings, including replacing windows and doors, the facia and installing new platform lighting.

The canopies, which were originally designed and installed in the 1950s, have reached the end of their shelf life and will be replaced with a new steel frame structure which will support the steel sheeting roof.

The canopy replacement is a technically challenging job due to the weight of the canopies (each weighs approx 140 tonnes). To remove them, each canopy will need to be cut in half and a 1000 tonne crane will be used to lift out the four sections.

Work will start on 8 & 9 April and then on eight successive weekends. To minimise disruption to passengers, Network Rail has organised the work to be carried out in conjunction with a range of maintenance and renewal tasks on the line, however it will be necessary to close the station whilst work is carried out and bus replacement services will be in operation.

Network Rail Route Director Dyan Crowther said: “As the national rail infrastructure operator, we are committed to investing in the rail network to improve facilities for passengers. The improvements at Potters Bar represent a significant investment, which will result in a more modern, pleasant environment for rail passengers and staff at the station.”

Elaine Holt, Managing Director, First Capital Connect, said: “This essential work will take place at weekends to minimise disruption. However, in order to carry out the improvements it will be necessary to close the station at weekends in April and May. During this time we will be running bus replacement services but I would advise all customers to allow extra time for their journey.

“This is an exciting time for Potter’s Bar station with many more improvements planned over the coming months including refurbished toilets and waiting rooms, new platforms shelters, enhanced CCTV and additional help points.”

Editor’s Notes:

Potters Bar station will be closed for eight successive weekends from 8th April 2007. During these time, high speed east coast services will be diverted around the Hertford Loop. Buses will replace trains connecting Potters Bar with Welwyn Garden City and Hadley Wood.

I see the waiting room on 1/2 is closed due to water damage... hold on a second.... this waiting room is under the new canopy, surely it can't be leaking already (BTW we need a bigger range of smilies)

I would of asked Mike but this morning he had 7, yes 7, people in testing the new PA system.

Anyone else think the rooms on the platforms now resemeble those ship containers?

I quite liked the initial position where the monitors were, with a lowest point about 5 foot 5 so everyone had the opportunity of banging their heads on them! They've moved them further up the platform now, so you can't see them as easy, but at least they're above head height. I'm glad they retained those monitors rather than fitting the ones that only show you now and next, with an arrow to the arrival platform.

Also notice "training gates" installed at the bottom of the ramp to P1/2 to coral people into single file as though they were ticket gates. I expect they'll use this to work out how many gates they need, then put too few in anyway Looks like there will be similar training gates the other end, with a fixed barrier between the two sides across the middle.

Still, on the plus side, I can get a train into work this weekend, at last!

Smiler Wrote:(BTW we need a bigger range of smilies)

Smiler, I am sure you will be pleased to note that you now have a new huge range of smilies to choose from!

12 are shown to the left of the comment box but far too many more can be picked from the [get more] link below that.

slimgym Wrote:Also notice "training gates" installed at the bottom of the ramp to P1/2 to coral people into single file as though they were ticket gates. I expect they'll use this to work out how many gates they need, then put too few in anyway

Passed through those today and while I am sure this will reduce the number of unpaid school kids, they look like a queue spot