Bristol rail passengers to see "dismal" tube station upgraded next year
Bristol West Lib Dem MP Stephen Williams has received a reply from London Mayor Boris Johnson over the state of Paddington tube station.
Mr Williams, who regularly travels to London by train for parliamentary duties in the House of Commons, condemned the "dismal conditions" which Bristol rail passengers have to endure on the Bakerloo line.
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Stephen Williams
The MP proposed an early day motion on the issue in which he said the restoration of one of the spans of the Edwardian glazed roof of Paddington Station which is now brightly painted and casting natural light onto the platforms and concourse should be compared with the poor conditions of the Bakerloo line station below.
He said crowded conditions and peeling paint made for a poor point of arrival and departure for passengers travelling between Paddington and Bristol and the west country.
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He called on Mr Johnson to schedule a much-needed programme of works and renovation for the sake of commuters and travellers.
In his reply, Mr Johnson said: "I can assure you that Paddington Tube station has not been overlooked and is indeed benefiting from the multi-billion pound investment in transport serving London.
This year, a new entrance has opened at Paddington (Hammersmith & City line) Tube station, and further improvements including a new ticket office and lift to platform level are due to be finished by 2014.
"The new Crossrail station at Paddington is being built, and when Crossrail opens in 2018 passengers arriving at Paddington from Bristol, Cardiff and all other cities in the West Country and South Wales will benefit significantly.
"I hope that you are reassured that maintaining and renewing the Tube is one of my top priorities and I appreciate that the condition of Paddington station is of particular importance to you and your constituents for whom the station serves as a gateway to London".
Mr Williams said: "Over the next few years we will see a huge improvement to mainline rail services to London as the line is electrified. Paddington Station has also become a much more attractive mainline station in recent years. But contrast this with the dismal state of the underground station at Paddington!"
"I am pleased that Bristolians have not been forgotten with the improvements to our main access to the nation's capital."
Mike Brown, the Managing Director of London Underground, said: "The main tube station does require work to bring it up to the same standard. In the short term, we will be improving the overall appearance of the station through a programme of redecoration, which will start next year.
"This will do much to improve the overall environment of the station.
"In the longer term, improvements to the Bakerloo line and the introduction of Crossrail services will significantly reduce crowding at the station. A pedestrian tunnel is planned which will link the Crossrail station with the Bakerloo line which will enable customers to move through the station more easily."
Comments
by citizenbris
Friday, January 11 2013, 11:08AM
“Has Williams forgotten he is an MP for Bristol, not London - hello? - what about the dismal state of Temple Meads Station??”
by J12345678
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 12:55AM
“I recall Boris had an equally rough impression of Bristol and the M-Shed during the Mayoral elections LOL "What's that crud" springs to mind...”
by matic_113
Monday, January 07 2013, 6:21PM
“At least London has a tube! what about Bristol's transport from Templemeads?? I'm sure most of Bristolians would kill for a light rail system to get around town. Maybe Williams should have a look at that first?”
by bartonhillbum
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:55PM
“Has Mr Williams EVER been along Gloucester Road at 10 am on a Monday morning ? Refuse lorries double parked, buses double parked because of shops, by bus stops, having deliveries.
I agree with Bristol2 in particular, you may not have long in the job Stephen; but that is no excuse for slacking. After all on the scale of salary, you enjoy per month, one would expect a first class service and dedication to ones duty for at least he next 2 or so years
Philip Morris”
by Bert_Hindle
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:27PM
“To be fair to Mr Williams, for international business and leisure visitors coming to Bristol via central London, the Paddington tube stations do set an incredibly gloomy first impression! Once you are in the main station and the onward journey to Bristol, it is fine, but the U/G stations are dark, and access and crowding on the Hammersmith and City lines are terrible with cramped, cold platforms, as can be seen in this photo:
http://tinyurl.com/b85a7gq
Still, I'd much rather have a tube system in Bristol than improvements there.....not that the two need to be mutually exclusive!”
by DockLobster
Monday, January 07 2013, 5:10PM
“C'mon kids, leave the hapless Mr William's alone, he'll be out of a job soon enough...”
by BristolMark2
Monday, January 07 2013, 4:50PM
“"Peeling paint"? Is he serious? Bristol's public transport system is well known for being a shambles, vastly overpriced AND unfit for purpose, yet Mr Williams takes the time to complain to the mayor of London about a station that needs a little tidying up. Please do your job and look closer to home!”
by Joke_Bristol
Monday, January 07 2013, 3:40PM
“A Bristol MP criticisng the public transport of another city. Genuinely incredible.”