Whitechapel

Sometimes I get the district line here. 5 star.

I cannot comment on the station as I have not been there recently, but there is an important reason why it is worth commenting on. Earlier this year, I was an outpatient at the very well resourced Royal London Hospital. The hospital is directly opposite Whitechapel station, with only a street market and traffic light crossing between. However, it was perplexing to be told when I phoned ahead that the station did not have access for wheelchairs! Many stations in London are very old and without a lot of restructuring cannot meet the access provisions required by law, so I would have some sympathy. However, the high level of funding so evident at the RLH, with its famous helicopter and top level diagnostic and treatment equipment, some NHS funding maybe should have been donated to upgrade the nearby underground station. People are referred to this hospital from all over the country, because of its facilities. It must be obvious that many will be wheelchair users. Kings Cross station, for example, also of great age, lost much of its infrastructure as well as valuable human lives in a terrible fire, over three decades ago. It then went on to be an even busier main station due to the relocation of the Channel Tunnel at adjacent St. Pancras. The result was that one of the most complex stations in the UK is now 100% accessible for passengers in wheelchairs, travellers vpushing prams, or carrying heavy luggage. The links between platforms, to the street, to taxis and buses, even links to bathroom facilities are carefully thought out, with smooth paths to lifts, and staff who can advise passengers which carriages are best to enter trains, asvtrains there pull up level with the platform with no gap. Superb station, my only criticism being the location of lifts is not clear. I mention KX station on a review of Whitechapel as an example of how with funding and intelligent engineering and architectural plans anything is possible. Whitechapel absolutely has to become fullyaccessible. Please note I have other stations to review, not always regarding wheelchairs, but I've already strayed commenting on another station from this review of Whitechapel. Opposite a top hospital, it is a travesty that patients cannot access the train network. If it is too expensive for the underground to fund this, the NHS should donate. Their cries of being cash strapped do not ring entirely true to me. I will back this up on another review. I do think the NHS simply and often mismanage their bookkeeping, again to be explained in another review. PLEASE Whitechapel, let sick or injured people, or those who may be sick, but still have to travel with a pram as they have to take their children with to the hospital, use your underground station. It would be lovely to have a response from you saying that this review is outdated as they now have full access. It is incredible that Whitechapel is denying entry and exit for a key population of potential users. I would love to be corrected. More London and surrounding counties, or local services in reviews to follow, some very positive, I'm not all doom and gloom, it's just some things need to be said. Also apologies for spelling errors in posted reviews - I'm still learning how to update or correct reviews once they're posted.

As like other metro stations, this is also good and well managed.

I am sure that this station will look great when it is finished and the new Crossrail platforms are open. But right now it feels like a building site. It is very impressive how they have kept the station open whilst they are rebuilding it but it just feels a bit rough at the moment and the station has a temporary entrance that is not as convenient as the normal entrance. The signs aren't very clear either; for example the platform numbers are not clearly marked and it doesn't help that the speakers at the end of platform 6 are announcing the trains arriving on platform 5 not 6! Very confusing! I will update this review when all the work is finished.

Really great station, has tubes etc. Loved it!