pottersbar.org Wrote:Canopy To Go At Station
The canopy over the platforms is going. Work starts 8th April and continues over 9 weekends. The station will be closed and a rail replacement bus service - oh what joy!! (26/3/07)

So why is the canopy going? What will replace it?

< Zero 14-Jun-2007 : Edited only to change thread title from "Train Station Canopy" to "Train Station Improvements" >

They're saying it's because it's reached the end of it's useful life. I recall reading somewhere it's the only one of it's type or something like that, maybe in the local history book about the railway through Potters Bar.

It's had extra supports fitted underneath it since the crash, I hope they're going to put up a different type of canopy instead. It's a right pain getting to work over the next 8 weekends, I'm going to drive instead, which kind of defeats the object of buying an annual ticket!

I have to say that it looks pretty scary to me. I stand under it every morning wondering whether it's going to come crashing down at any moment. I think it's a good thing that they are tearing it down but I suspect that due to the cost, a replacement will not be put up - or if it is then it will be much smaller

Indeed it does move a bit and must be extremely heavy. It's hard to see what they're up to in respect of the work that's taken place already. I tried to find a planning application for it but there doesn't seem to be one. The planning engine on the council website goes back several years and covers other alterations to the station but nothing to do with the canopy.

It shows an application in 2002 for a cash machine in the station, don't think this ever appeared, though I notice Sainsburys now have one in the remodelled store (which has a planning app located here).

Just to let everyone know, I've emailed FCC and asked them what they intend to replace the canopy with, if anything.

Once I get a response I will let you know...

Progress report....

What a mess. Weekend workers are messy buggers.... everytime a fast train passed this morning it kicked up a pile of dust!

Can't honestly see what they've done but they have removed most of the seating, dug a hole and filled it with concrete.

I was told my Mike (platform guy) that a Metal canopy is going up

They look to have put down a shed load of concrete into a hole at the north end of P1/2 - maybe foundations for whatever's going to replace it. Went down there saturday and they had a truck full of concrete with a sort of hose attachment right across three tracks into the hole. I can see there's no way you could run any service at all with this kind of thing going on but that doesn't help paying for a service in advance only to have it pulled with no compensation. I might consider using the replacement bus if I were just tripping into London and back but for a 12 hour shift it's a non starter.

You sure you don't get compo? Delay of 30 mins gets a partial refund, 60 mins should mean 100% refund? Or does the fact that they have advertised it make claims void?

You only pay for the journey, so as they run buses (even though the bus is 45 mins to KX instead of 15mins) no compo. I will try and write in - 4 weekends at £13 petrol a day return is £104 out of pocket as I've already paid once for the journey, plus the added hassle of driving instead of letting someone else do it.  I bought the ticket thinking it would cover me all year but I guess that's the risk I took at the time. Friend of mine drives to Cockfosters when the trains are out, but this weekend that's also suspended.

I know it's a hassle but £26 in petrol? What on earth do you drive?

Could also drive to High Barnet?

< Zero:Minor edit regarding use of abbreviation >

Ahh yes I doubled it too many times It's £7 return in petrol each day and takes about half an hour to drive, you can probably double that if it involves parking at a tube station which is why I tend to drive the whole way. Just wish there was a mechanism to get back the journey I've already paid for.

Zero Wrote:Just to let everyone know, I've emailed FCC and asked them what they intend to replace the canopy with, if anything.

Once I get a response I will let you know...

First Capital Connect have yet to reply even though they promised a reply within 5 days!

Yes they're probably deciding which of the standard emails applies to your query

Noticed two large posts have appeared on the south side of P3/4 which could be canopy supports, if they are, it'll put the new canopy quite a bit lower than the existing one. The piling on P3/4 at the top of the ramp has been filled in as has that on the north end of P3/4 (filled with tarmac) and there is now excavation going on at the top of the ramp for P1/2.

Well First Capital Connect have still not replied - even after I chased them up and they said that they would get back soon last Tuesday.

I have found on Network Rail's site that:-

Quote:

• The canopies, which were originally designed and installed in the 1950s, have reached the end of their working life and will be replaced with a new steel frame structure which will support the steel sheeting roof. The old canopies will be recycled.
• Work will start on 8 and 9 April and will continue on eight successive weekends.
• This is an exciting time for Potters 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.
  

By the looks of it yesterday, at least the south end of P3/4 was being lifted away, possibly more. I had to go into London yesterday and you sure apprecate a fast train service when the bus from here to Barnet and eventually to Euston-ish takes nearly an hour when the train from here would do it in 15 mins