View Full Version : What is that being built in Vauxhall??
Anyone from Sarf...or I guess norf of the river know what is being built kind of to the right and infront of the MI5 building in Vauxhall. It looks like some kind of huge silver ramp? like half a flyover or something..... underneath I dunno but it perplexes me and reckon someone here must have a clue?
lang rabbie
07-09-2004, 12:46
Vauxhall Cross bus interchange - was supposed to open a year ago, now scheduled for October :confused:
(previous thread seems to have been deleted, so here's link to TfL spin:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/streets/vauxhallX_progupdate.shtml
Minnie_the_Minx
07-09-2004, 13:03
Yep, new bus garage with a solar roof. Wish they'd finish Vauxhall Cross works, it's been years
Orang Utan
07-09-2004, 13:30
Looks like a rocket launchpad.
Something's afoot.
;)
A ramp to launch a gigantic rocket that will save a select few when our world collides with another next year!
The Man is keeping quiet about it, but the people of Vuaxhall know... :eek:
Minnie_the_Minx
07-09-2004, 13:40
Looks like a rocket launchpad.
Something's afoot.
;)
Yep, that's the solar powered rocket launchpad ;)
PacificOcean
07-09-2004, 13:42
It looks like the foundations of a rollercoster. :cool:
There is a sign still around Vauxhall somewhere warning about the start day of works someday inAugust 1999! What they hell have they been doing for five years? I was working in Vauxhall last summer and I swear that bus station is at exactly the same stage as it was last summer.
Also, what I haven't understood is what they need a bus station in Vauxhall for anyway. The only routes to terminate there are routes 44 and 156.
It's a truly hideous construction, and totally out of scale.
It looks like an ugly flyover.
I think the lack of progress is probably due to the people not working on it - I've hardly ever seen anyone doing anything there! I arrived in Vauxhall in April 2000 and left a few months ago - so have never had the luxury of there not being works!
I arrived in Vauxhall in April 2000 and left a few months ago
jeez i know its a bad junction but it cant have taken you 4years to get out :p
lang rabbie
07-09-2004, 14:04
It's a truly hideous construction, and totally out of scale.
It looks like an ugly flyover.
You should have seen the other two designs they consulted on some four and a bit years ago! The Arup scheme is suave and sophisticated in comparison.
It may look a bit less daunting when the stainless steel cladding is completed sometime in the next month or so.
Orang Utan
07-09-2004, 14:04
It's a truly hideous construction, and totally out of scale.
It looks like an ugly flyover.
Have you seen what's under the flyover?
The bus station itself looks like a giant American car diner type thing (IYKNIM)
Minnie_the_Minx
07-09-2004, 14:17
Good for a bit of this though :D
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1190000/images/_1194090_eddie_jump_150.jpg
Minnie_the_Minx
07-09-2004, 14:24
What do you think the residents of St George's Wharf (http://www.designforhomes.org/projects/built/effra/effra.jpg) think about it? They have the prestige of being next door to another famous building and being stuck in front of bus station monstrosity :D
lang rabbie
07-09-2004, 14:35
What do you think the residents of St George's Wharf (http://www.designforhomes.org/projects/built/effra/effra.jpg) think about it? They have the prestige of being next door to another famous building and being stuck in front of bus station monstrosity :D
Oh don't worry about them - they were all stupid/greedy enough to buy flats "off plan", didn't read the small print of the search documents, and failed to realise that there's a large office block about to be constructed between their flats and Vauxhall Cross bringing another two years of construction chaos to the area.
What do you think the residents of St George's Wharf (http://www.designforhomes.org/projects/built/effra/effra.jpg) think about it? They have the prestige of being next door to another famous building and being stuck in front of bus station monstrosity :D
Thats another thing, what is to become of that pub in front of the new development, looks like it must have been a nice old boozer in its day, someone stuck on a dodgy nightclub on the side or looks it and is now sitting there derelict. Must be worth a fortune? spect it will turn in to some uber trendy bar?
Orang Utan
07-09-2004, 15:37
That's a working men's club. Some mates hired it once for a 'rave-up' as my mum would call it. Cheap cheap beer but very tatty. Forgotten it's name already and i walk past it every day.
citydreams
07-09-2004, 15:43
My boss had to go out on site to inspect the works.. They had run a high voltage electricty line 5cm under the surface of the walkway! :eek:
That's a working men's club. Some mates hired it once for a 'rave-up' as my mum would call it. Cheap cheap beer but very tatty. Forgotten it's name already and i walk past it every day.
I reckon in a working men's club a 'knees up' would be more appropriate though can't believe it's still open?? looks like its falling down....would make for an interesting squat though methinks
Minnie_the_Minx
07-09-2004, 15:45
Oh don't worry about them - they were all stupid/greedy enough to buy flats "off plan", didn't read the small print of the search documents, and failed to realise that there's a large office block about to be constructed between their flats and Vauxhall Cross bringing another two years of construction chaos to the area.
I'm not. I'm delighted :D
Minnie_the_Minx
07-09-2004, 15:46
Thats another thing, what is to become of that pub in front of the new development, looks like it must have been a nice old boozer in its day, someone stuck on a dodgy nightclub on the side or looks it and is now sitting there derelict. Must be worth a fortune? spect it will turn in to some uber trendy bar?
There's always the Vauxhall Market Tavern round the corner :D
PacificOcean
07-09-2004, 15:52
There's always the Vauxhall Market Tavern round the corner :D
That shut years ago. Sniff. Many a great Sunday comedown spent there. Just old enough to remember it.
lang rabbie
07-09-2004, 17:27
Thats another thing, what is to become of that pub in front of the new development, looks like it must have been a nice old boozer in its day, someone stuck on a dodgy nightclub on the side or looks it and is now sitting there derelict. Must be worth a fortune? spect it will turn in to some uber trendy bar?
Former Elephant and Castle?
Major Development Opportunity Site 100 - Bondway East
The Elephant and Castle public house and the former bank should be retained as buildings of merit. Active frontage uses to Bondway. Bus stopping and standing facilities should not interfere with the potential creation of these frontages.
lang rabbie
07-09-2004, 17:37
That's a working men's club. Some mates hired it once for a 'rave-up' as my mum would call it. Cheap cheap beer but very tatty. Forgotten it's name already and i walk past it every day.
Not the pub. It was the poshest working mens club in London IMHO...
http://www.derelictlondon.com/1a0426c50.jpg
A Georgian mansion house, built in 1758 and listed Grade II. Purchased in 1811 by Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Brunswick, who fled to England after taking part in the battle of Wagram against Napoleon but returned to Brunswick in 1813 and was killed in battle two years later.
The Vauxhall Society wants the house restored for community use. There has even been talk of moving it to Camberwell, although conservation bodies unanimously reject this as tantamount to demolishing the building. Everyone from the Spitalfields Trust and the Georgian Society to the Lambeth councillor responsible for planning, has expressed concern about the property's deterioration and it has been put on the Buildings At Risk register. It was bought by the London and South Western Railway in 1850, and was occupied until recently by a railwaymen's social club, was sold at rail privatisation in 1996. Finding its owner to enforce repairs has led to confusion over how to save Brunswick House.
http://www.derelictlondon.com/id14.htm
Orang Utan
07-09-2004, 17:42
That's it - the Brunswick!
Blimey, you seem to be some kind of London buildings oracle Rabbie - you know everything
Tricky Skills
07-09-2004, 21:42
I posted up some pics of the inter-change here (http://www.crapmatchreports.blogspot.com/pictemps/vauxhall.html).
They were taken back in April and the construction hasn't exactly improved since then. I hate to be the prophet of bad news, but Vauxhall Cross is a cycling death waiting to happen :(
Former Elephant and Castle?
The Elephant & Castle was NEVER a nice pub, believe me!
I've often wondered about Brunswick House - such a shame to see it empty & tinned up, as it's a lovely building.
Minnie_the_Minx
08-09-2004, 09:37
That shut years ago. Sniff. Many a great Sunday comedown spent there. Just old enough to remember it.
Yeah, but it looked pretty grotty when it shut, and I go past it on the bus and it looks like it's had a paint job. Was it blue before? Think it was, but the paint looks cleaner. Maybe it's just had a wipe-down?
PacificOcean
08-09-2004, 10:28
Yeah, but it looked pretty grotty when it shut, and I go past it on the bus and it looks like it's had a paint job. Was it blue before? Think it was, but the paint looks cleaner. Maybe it's just had a wipe-down?
Are you thinking of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the big round building? They have just painted it blue, that is still open.
The market tavern was up some steps underneath those two towers and shut a few years ago.
Minnie_the_Minx
08-09-2004, 11:10
Are you thinking of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the big round building? They have just painted it blue, that is still open.
The market tavern was up some steps underneath those two towers and shut a few years ago.
Yep, mixing me taverns up. :rolleyes:
Right, so which one was/is the gay one? I went there a few times with some friends many many years ago?
PacificOcean
08-09-2004, 12:39
Yep, mixing me taverns up. :rolleyes:
Right, so which one was/is the gay one? I went there a few times with some friends many many years ago?
Both are/were.
Vauxhall Tavern is the current major gay one - big night is Sunday night.
Brunswick house was a C.I.U - one of those working men's clubs - I assume it got sold by them - there's still a working one on Kennington road of all places - wedged between two posh houses.
Vauxhall cross has actually got a lot better for cyclists recently since there are now cycle paths over pavements / through tunnels - I cut almost daily from Oval via the Vauxhall taven underpass to MI6
Minnie_the_Minx
08-09-2004, 13:15
Both are/were.
Well that's bloody confusing, but I think it was the Vauxhall Tavern that I went to - oh, about 15 years ago :D
lang rabbie
12-10-2004, 16:29
Have just found out that TfL reckon the contractors will be off site by the end of this week!
Vauxhall Cross
Question No: 1104 / 2004
Valerie Shawcross
When will Vauxhall Cross Public Transport Interchange be fully
operational? What are the figures for pedestrian and cyclists accidents in
and around the gyratory since its installation?
A number of interchange improvements such as surface level pedestrian crossings and new pedestrian accesses into the stations have already been delivered. Substantial completion is scheduled for 15 October 2004 with some ancillary works, including completion of a retail unit, continuing until November 2004. TfL is currently discussing with the contractor and London Buses the scope for a staged occupation of the bus station, prior to 15 October.
Since the commencement of the interchange works in January 2002 until May
2004 (with the closure of Bond Way to general traffic), there have been a total of 143 reported casualties in the Vauxhall Cross area. Of these, 23 were pedestrians and 17 were pedal cyclists. We would generally assess the safety of the interchange following completion of all works and sufficient ‘after’ casualty information has been collected that has statistical validity – usually after 3 years.
Minnie_the_Minx
12-10-2004, 16:31
Have just found out that TfL reckon the contractors will be off site by the end of this week!
wasn't it supposed to open this week after the last delay?
Minnie_the_Minx
18-10-2004, 16:12
Lang - the TFL website doesn't seem to have been updated. Does this mean Vauxhall Cross is STILL not finished? :confused:
chegrimandi
18-10-2004, 16:18
its literally just outside my work....and no it aint finished yet :eek: :D
Minnie_the_Minx
18-10-2004, 16:19
its literally just outside my work....and no it aint finished yet :eek: :D
Didn't think so. Went past on bus last week and pondered over whether it would actually open this week. :rolleyes:
Turning into another Brixton tube :rolleyes:
chegrimandi
18-10-2004, 16:25
Didn't think so. Went past on bus last week and pondered over whether it would actually open this week. :rolleyes:
Turning into another Brixton tube :rolleyes:
just looked out of the window and there isn't that much more that needs to be done on the face of it....can't be too much longer I wouldn't have thought....
Minnie_the_Minx
18-10-2004, 16:31
just looked out of the window and there isn't that much more that needs to be done on the face of it....can't be too much longer I wouldn't have thought....
Yeah right, ok so :rolleyes: :D
Believe it when I see it :D
johnniebutterfl
18-10-2004, 16:32
Vauxhall Tavern is the current major gay one - big night is Sunday night
Don't forget the brilliant Duckie on saturdays djed by the Reader's Wives collective. i think its still going.
Cheg, that's not the view from 'Intelligence' Towers is it?
chegrimandi
18-10-2004, 16:34
Don't forget the brilliant Duckie on saturdays djed by the Reader's Wives collective. i think its still going.
Cheg, that's not the view from 'Intelligence' Towers is it?
hehe no it isn't!! I aint no spook :D
I can see that building from my office though
2 Hardcore
18-10-2004, 18:43
When we're missioning up from the South West/Wouth Wales for our nites out, we always know we're nearly there when we see that 'thing'! So glad we now know what it is - would agree that it looks like a flyover, we just couldn't fathom out what it was, or why it was there! :)
lang rabbie
19-10-2004, 09:28
<dons anorak>Took a diversion on the way home by catching the 77A last night to look at (lack of) progress. <discards anorak>
IMO most alarming thing is that none of the lighting in the ski ramp seems to be working yet. Given that LondonEnergy (formerly LEB) typically take 2-6 months to connect street lamps after new lamp columns go in on TfL red routes (cf Brixton Hill), what sort of wait does this imply?
Or has anyone seen any of the lighting working yet?
chegrimandi
22-10-2004, 11:14
still plenty of work going on on this today......
anyone know how much this little project cost tfl.....a fair amount I would guess....given that it will probably after a year become quite vandalised and graff-strewn I'd have thought all-in-all its a fair waste of public money. :(
lang rabbie
22-10-2004, 11:51
IIRC the three teams of architects who competed for the design of the bus interchange were given an overall budget of £3million.
Think that the various roadworks around Vauxhall Cross (mostly installed pre congestion charge) amounted to at least the same amount of money.
PacificOcean
22-10-2004, 12:09
<dons anorak>Took a diversion on the way home by catching the 77A last night to look at (lack of) progress. <discards anorak>
Is the 77 the last route in London to have an 'A' route? All of the other 'A's were prefixed with a 3 years ago.
it will probably after a year become quite vandalised and graff-strewn I'd have thought all-in-all its a fair waste of public money. :(
I dunno, Stratford is still in pretty god condition, isn't it?
gawkrodger
22-10-2004, 21:31
there's a fairly amusing article on this new bus centre thin in the latest issue of the almighty smoke 'zine
http://www.shink.dircon.co.uk/smoke.htm
Minnie_the_Minx
25-10-2004, 11:27
still plenty of work going on on this today......
anyone know how much this little project cost tfl.....a fair amount I would guess....given that it will probably after a year become quite vandalised and graff-strewn I'd have thought all-in-all its a fair waste of public money. :(
any nearer to opening then?
dogmatique
25-10-2004, 12:59
there's a fairly amusing article on this new bus centre thin in the latest issue of the almighty smoke 'zine
http://www.shink.dircon.co.uk/smoke.htm
New issue of Smoke out you say?
*get's coat, rushes out of door*
Edit:
Back from t'shop. Oh, and a two page article on Brixton Market. Triffic.
any nearer to opening then?
Still looked unfinished to me as I cycled past this morning....
Minnie_the_Minx
28-10-2004, 11:24
Still looked unfinished to me as I cycled past this morning....
and no doubt no explanation from TFL :rolleyes:
Will stick to the tube for now then
lang rabbie
02-11-2004, 13:06
This story in last Friday's South London Press (http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/tm_objectid=14808678%26method=full%26siteid=50100%26headline=drug%2dden%2d%2dthreat%2dto%2dsafety%2d-name_page.html) (continuing wrangling between Lambeth and TfL about maintenance of the former subways to Vauxhall tube!) reports a TfL spokeswoman as saying that Vauxhall Cross interchange would open before Christmas :(
This story in last Friday's South London Press (http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/tm_objectid=14808678%26method=full%26siteid=50100%26headline=drug%2dden%2d%2dthreat%2dto%2dsafety%2d-name_page.html) (continuing wrangling between Lambeth and TfL about maintenance of the former subways to Vauxhall tube!) reports a TfL spokeswoman as saying that Vauxhall Cross interchange would open before Christmas :(
I'll be the first person to note that they haven't said which Xmas ;)
As I went past yesterday it looked like it was getting fairly close to completion though...
Minnie_the_Minx
02-11-2004, 15:55
I'll be the first person to note that they haven't said which Xmas ;)
As I went past yesterday it looked like it was getting fairly close to completion though...
Well hopefully Brixton Station will follow :D
lang rabbie
06-12-2004, 10:36
It's open :eek: - I caught a 77 bus there yesterday.
There are some bizarre features of the layout - northbound 77s appear to depart from the same side as all other south and west bound buses :confused:
The paving has been craply done - I could feel the unevenness through my trail shoes - suspect it will start cracking shortly.
I give the stainless steel cladding five years before some fault is discovered that involves stripping it all off.
citydreams
06-12-2004, 10:45
from TfL:
Press centre
Buses Press Release
3 December 2004
Buses to use Vauxhall Cross Interchange from 4 December
Vauxhall Cross Interchange will be open to buses from 4am on Saturday 4 December 2004. There are currently 13 bus routes through Vauxhall Cross, carrying around 25,000 passengers in peak periods. 12 of these routes will transfer into the new interchange, allowing quick and convenient transfer to tube or rail.
The bus routes that will be using the interchange are as follows:
2, 36, 44, 77, 77A, 88, 156, 185, 322, 344, 360, 436
N2, N36, N44, N77, N88
The interchange will become fully operational in mid December.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Editors
The media will be invited to visit the site when it becomes fully operational, further information will be provided shortly.
Minnie_the_Minx
06-12-2004, 11:23
from TfL:
Press centre
Buses Press Release
3 December 2004
Buses to use Vauxhall Cross Interchange from 4 December
Vauxhall Cross Interchange will be open to buses from 4am on Saturday 4 December 2004. There are currently 13 bus routes through Vauxhall Cross, carrying around 25,000 passengers in peak periods. 12 of these routes will transfer into the new interchange, allowing quick and convenient transfer to tube or rail.
The bus routes that will be using the interchange are as follows:
2, 36, 44, 77, 77A, 88, 156, 185, 322, 344, 360, 436
N2, N36, N44, N77, N88
The interchange will become fully operational in mid December.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Editors
The media will be invited to visit the site when it becomes fully operational, further information will be provided shortly.
Does all this actually make the buses go any faster or is it just easier for pedestrians etc.
Can't exactly remember why it was built in the first place it's been so long :confused: :o
chegrimandi
06-12-2004, 11:27
oh my god, getting out of the tube today.....
it's open!
:eek: :eek:
oh my god, getting out of the tube today.....
it's open!
:eek: :eek:
Takes the plunge: Last night I got off the Tube at Vauxhall to catch a bus to Camberwell. I stood at the bus stop beside MI6 for ten minutes before I realised that the reason the buses were all going past without stopping was cos the ski-ramp was open (it had been a long day).
It's pretty good there. Feels much safer. Lots of bright lights. And less likelihood of tripping up in the middle of the road running for the bus.
PacificOcean
06-12-2004, 15:06
Does all this actually make the buses go any faster or is it just easier for pedestrians etc.
Unfortunatly getting a bus (77A) into the west end now means the bus has to turn off into the new station instead of just turning left over the bridge. Doing a lap of the station to face the right way again. Stop for five minutes while the driver goes and has a piss. Then wait an age at the new traffic lights to leave the bus station. All in all it added another 8 or 9 minutes to the journey.
Minnie_the_Minx
06-12-2004, 16:18
Takes the plunge: Last night I got off the Tube at Vauxhall to catch a bus to Camberwell. I stood at the bus stop beside MI6 for ten minutes before I realised that the reason the buses were all going past without stopping was cos the ski-ramp was open (it had been a long day).
It's pretty good there. Feels much safer. Lots of bright lights. And less likelihood of tripping up in the middle of the road running for the bus.
Have they managed to get any snow on the ski-ramp yet?
Minnie_the_Minx
06-12-2004, 16:19
Unfortunatly getting a bus (77A) into the west end now means the bus has to turn off into the new station instead of just turning left over the bridge. Doing a lap of the station to face the right way again. Stop for five minutes while the driver goes and has a piss. Then wait an age at the new traffic lights to leave the bus station. All in all it added another 8 or 9 minutes to the journey.
So the No. 2 will now take even longer? Bollox to that. Will stick to the tube :mad:
gawkrodger
06-12-2004, 16:47
the really important question is:
is it any good to skate?
the really important question is:
is it any good to skate?
Maybe in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. You could get, what, a 1080 degree spin off the top? :)
Minnie_the_Minx
06-12-2004, 17:26
the really important question is:
is it any good to skate?
Since when do you go skating on ski slopes? :rolleyes:
:D
Tricky Skills
12-12-2004, 08:29
I've put some pics up of the new station HERE (http://www.mondaysmusings.blogspot.com/pictemps/vaux1.html).
Not that I'm a bus anorak or anything :o
I've put some pics up of the new station HERE (http://www.mondaysmusings.blogspot.com/pictemps/vaux1.html).
Not that I'm a bus anorak or anything :o
Haven't been past for a few days - is it completely finished? Or will it not be open for Xmas? Or closed I suppose... but capable of being open...
Minnie_the_Minx
22-12-2004, 12:43
Haven't been past for a few days - is it completely finished? Or will it not be open for Xmas? Or closed I suppose... but capable of being open...
It's open. I went round it the other day when Victoria Tube Station was shut due to overcrowding.
Looks quite piddly. Can't understand how it took so long to build something so insignificant. The offices look like some sort of portacabin :rolleyes:
lang rabbie
22-12-2004, 15:00
The offices look like some sort of portacabin :rolleyes:
Surely not - it's a 1946 Lighthouse Silverking trailer mobile home (http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/html/1946_lighthouse.htm)
Minnie_the_Minx
22-12-2004, 15:21
Surely not - it's a 1946 Lighthouse Silverking trailer mobile home (http://www.allmanufacturedhomes.com/html/1946_lighthouse.htm)
Fucking hell :eek: They must have got their inspiration from that :eek:
I like the new bus station, especially the gleaming trailer :D (How long will it be before it's got some crappy tag sprayed on the back?)
At least there's somewhere to sit now, it's well-lit and you don't have to scarper across the busy road behind the station to get to the temporary bus stop.
salaryman
23-12-2004, 09:21
it's bloody awful that station, went past it the other night. a solar powered roof is a great idea, but given it's vast size, i can't believe it will only provide 30% of the power required (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/streets/vauxhall_cross.shtml). still, it will be better than no station at all i guess so i'm thankful for small mercies!
I wasn't sure about it at first, but it defintely looks pretty good at night though!
http://www.urban75.org/london/images/vauxhall-cross02.jpg
http://www.urban75.org/london/vauxhall-cross.html
Minnie_the_Minx
10-10-2005, 09:22
Looks like there should be rockets flying off it now
It's ready for the return of Eddie 'The Eagle'!
Tricky Skills
10-10-2005, 20:27
I like the way the large Underground logo changes colour at night. Not much change (red to blue), but it does happen!
yeah the changing tube sign is quite cool. i think it looks pretty good and and once you get your head round your bus stops, i think it's a big improvement...
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