Some more ELL pictures here, starting with a quick look at the train we boarded on our way to Shadwell.
Unsurprisingly, there’s little difference between the ELL’s rolling stock and the 378s on the NLL. Looking down the entire length of a four-car unit as it winds along the track however is, we can report, even more vertigo-inducing than doing so on a three-car.
Secondly, with the assistance of a random hand that happened to be lurking nearby, we were able to get a quick look beneath the wrappings at the new internal map.
Rather strangely, it wasn’t an obvious New Johnston variant – seemingly the only example of this we could find, as all other carriage signage and indeed internal station signage we encountered was New Johnston. Neither the TfL nor LOROL representatives present were able to explain why this was the case.
Surrey Quays
Unfortunately we were non-stopping at Surrey Quays, so it was only possible to get a fleeting glance at the platforms through the glass.
Shadwell
We were able to disembark at Shadwell, and thus got a good overall view of the station.
At platform level, the ironwork in striking and the archwork (complete with new lighting arrangement) is similarly impressive.
As can be seen below the platforms are light and airy, and as our last set of ELL photos suggested, the restoration of the artistic panels has been well-executed.
The entry/exit point remains at the rear of the platforms, although new emergency exits have been added towards the other end as well.
Moving up towards concourse level, the staircase now sports a two-tone colour scheme (complimented here by an orange-jacketed member of LOROL staff), whilst elsewhere the walls carry a blue-grey mosaic pattern.
This mosaic pattern extends to the ticket-office level. Here, one ticket machine is present (next to the ticket/information window). We were able to get a quick look “behind the scenes” here.
Shadwell has also acquired a new “rear exit” – which should make interchanging with the DLR station over the road slightly easier.
Finally, the signage at Shadwell shows the full reach of the Overground network, as well as the planned extension to Cannonbury and Highbury and Islington (which will likely be given a white-out before opening).
Shoreditch High Street
We were also able to disembark at Shoreditch. The station box masks the sheer scale of the station here, which is larger than one expects. The box has clearly been designed to allow for eight-car formations, however unlikely that currently may be.
Moving down the stairs, the station suddenly opens out into a wide, high-roofed ticket office of equally surprising scale. Mosaic here is turquose, where present.
Out front in the remains of Bishopsgate Goods Yard, the Braithwaite Arches remain, and indeed are about to gain a bit more recognition. The northern part of wheler Street – the street directly in front of the station (over which the arch below carries) – was postcodeless due to its age and previous obscurity. Thus when the postcode request was made to Tower Hamlets, TfL also requested that this section of road be renamed “Braithwaite Street” in honour of both the arches and the man who designed them – a request that has been granted.
Hoxton
As with Surrey Quays, Hoxton was non-stopping, so the opportunity to grab photos was limited to those below. The station appeared to follow the now-common brushed concrete and glass model, and platform covers were limited.
Pleasantly, it appears that the old Broad Street Station War Memorial is finally to return to Central London. The memorial, currently lurking in Richmond Station car park, is to be relocated to the front of Hoxton station complete with a rededication ceremony. Hoxton – as with the other viaduct stations – sits on the old lines that used to run into Broad Street station.
Haggerston
Again, Haggerston was unfortunately a non-stopper. The station appeared to follow the same design pattern as Hoxton.
Dalston Junction
Disembarking at Dalston was also sadly impossible, as it is still technically considered a construction site (with all the Health and Safety implications that carries). Thanks to a member of LOROL staff kindly agreeing to “accidentally” open the doors, however, it was possible to get a couple of decent images of things at platform level.
The general layout was also relatively easy to gauge – the station contains two island platforms.
And Finally…
When travelling on the ELL, keep an eye out for a “blink and you’ll miss it” sighting of old Shoreditch station, now no more.
Comments are closed.