please empty your brain below
"... with '1' reserved for a fourth platform should there ever be the money for a fourth track."

And the simple answer is unlikely - unless Crossrail 2 gets built. If Crossrail 2 goes ahead then a fourth track is essential.

Pedantic of Purley | 10.09.19 - 7:57 a.m. | #

Very welcome - although it was supposed to have reached Brimsdown in the original plans, shame that with all the money being splashed about on HS2 there was only enough money spent on infrastructure to provide the minimum service (bit like the DLR), so any enhancement would result in disruption to the new passengers.

Still Anon | 10.09.19 - 8:20 a.m. | #

A shame that with the introduction of the the Merdian Water trains the 8.26 to Stratfoed no longer stops at Northumberland Park. Genuinely irritating for those of us who work in Stratford and found that well timed to get us to work. Why does Lea Bridge get 4 trains an hour while we get 3?

Grumpy of Northumberland Park | 10.09.19 - 8:35 a.m. | #

The usable length of a potential platform 1 is constrained by a building at the south end and the box covering the Victoria Line depot ramp at the north end

47444 | 10.09.19 - 9:42 a.m. | #

Northumberland Park BR Station had 4 Platforms, when the Victoria Line Depot was under construction all goods came by rail & the trains were delivered by rail.

Bob | 10.09.19 - 10:15 a.m. | #

As you say, it's genuinely useful for those of us wanting to get to IKEA by public transport. Only the small 192 buses currently connect Tottenaham Hale with the store.

It would be nice if National Rail updated their mobile app to recognise Meridian Water! It's not there - at least not in the up to date Android version that I have installed.

Adam Bowie | Homepage | 10.09.19 - 10:20 a.m. | #

...who, in there right mind, goes by train to IKEA?

Grumpy Anon | 10.09.19 - 10:35 a.m. | #

Some days all you want are tealights, meatballs and an occasional table.

The new service will be very useful.

Sven | 10.09.19 - 11:04 a.m. | #

"...who, in there right mind, goes by train to IKEA?"

People who don't have a car, who want to see the furniture in person before ordering online (and get some meatballs/veg balls and tealights whilst they're at it)

AL__S | 10.09.19 - 11:18 a.m. | #

Lea bridge is big winner from this but it could be a big loser if crossrail 2 happens as the latest plans take it back to a half hourly service.

Flare | 10.09.19 - 12:19 p.m. | #

"...who, in there right mind, goes by train to IKEA?"

45% of households in London don't have cars or vans*. So I suspect it's quite a lot. You're not going to squeeze a sofa onto the 192, but for some kitchen wares, duvet covers or the odd shelf, it's fine.

I myself was there at the weekend buying some picture frames. I travelled by bus.

And for those with more bulky purchases, there are also plenty of people calling cabs or requesting Ubers to get some of their bulkier purchases home. I've done that in the past too.

* National Travel Survey, 31 July 2019

Adam Bowie | Homepage | 10.09.19 - 1:14 p.m. | #

Open House (21-22 Sep) will be showing off Meridian Water station both days, including architect-led tours behind the scenes. There are also separate MW Masterplan walking tours which start from the station.

Gordon | 10.09.19 - 1:30 p.m. | #

I don't go by train or car to IKEA, I go by tram.

NickW | 10.09.19 - 1:44 p.m. | #

It does baffle me that they've built only one extra track here, and might come back to build a second - is it really that much more expensive now to build 2 tracks etc, while you're there, rather than build 1 now and 1 later?

Phil J | Homepage | 10.09.19 - 2:41 p.m. | #

RE IKEA via tram: it's highly publicised on the tram systems in Sheffield and Manchester. The new IKEA in Sheffield is right next to a tram stop and their logo appears on the Sheffield Supertram maps besides the stop name; meanwhile the IKEA in Ashton-under-Lyne offers discounts to shoppers who show their Metrolink ticket.

TheLupineOne | 10.09.19 - 3:29 p.m. | #

The one occasion I've been to MW was indeed to go to IKEA, by train. Have also been to their branches in Coventry (city centre) and Reading (shortish walk from Theale station) by train. Oh and the one at Lakeside (from Chafford Hundred, but the route is not very pedestrian friendly). Used to go to the one at Neasden/"Wembley" by bus. Clearly I have moved around a lot, and lived in many places without a car.

Dominic H | 10.09.19 - 6:20 p.m. | #

It seems we actually will be getting the fourth platform here very soon. See link here (scroll to 2nd story)

This will apparently be for a shuttle between Meridian Water and Tottenham Hale, presumably requiring a passing loop somewhere inbetween. The first £150m project was apparently going to stimulate ME housebuilding, but with 0 houses delivered so far it seems a second £150m scheme is now hoped to do a bit better.

dg writes: 'by 2023'

WAGN | 10.09.19 - 6:49 p.m. | #

Nice to see some transport infrastructure being opened in advance of the wider redevelopment

Mikey C | 10.09.19 - 6:57 p.m. | #

At Northumberland Park it looks as though there is just about enough space to squeeze a fourth platform in, with minor adjustment to the ridiculously long ramp.

At first, there were nannying automatic announcements to hold onto the handrails. I'm glad that these have been switched off.

Bob L-S | 10.09.19 - 10:31 p.m. | #

far too much talk about IKEA

E | 11.09.19 - 10:09 a.m. | #

And in yet another example of (dis)joined-up thinking on the railway: Network Rail built the platforms to fit 8 standard carriages of 20m each - so 160m long. Greater Anglia then announced they are getting EMUs that are 5x23m or 10x23m long.

It'll be fun to watch when the throngs of football fans at Northumberland Park all try to squeeze into a 5-car train. But only from a distance.

straphan | 11.09.19 - 11:52 a.m. | #

Up North we are still waiting for the much needed extra through Platforms at Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road which the aforementioned Grayling delayed yet again.

Rick | 13.09.19 - 9:27 p.m. | #











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