Road to nowhere

I seem to have spent a lot of time changing trains over the past couple of weeks. I'm not complaining about this: I love train journeys, and changing is an opportunity to pause and reflect.


However, I've noticed that a lot of the shiny bridges and walkways that have recently been erected are completely sealed, with no exterior views at all. That makes them feel soul-less and disorientating.


And that's before the disorientation experienced in interchange stations like Stratford -- which despite having millions spent on it seems designed as a sculpture rather than a rational, readable building.


I rather liked the external view of the footbridge at the far end of the Jubilee lines at Stratford -- elegant, functional, easily comprehensible. It's just a pity that the footbridge itself was a sealed box (see photo 2, above).


At Fratton, the new footbridge is a little better -- but the view is blocked by heavy-duty wiring. It's as if we're all prisoners being herded from one secure area to another, not to be trusted:


Contrast that with this ancient footbridge at Cosham, accessible from both the main road and the platforms (to allow everyone to cross the railway line when the level crossing is closed):


It's easily readable, totally comprehensible, and absolutely orientable -- you never experience a momentary sense of panic at being lost or disoriented while using this structure.


Of course, I'd add a roof to provide shelter from the rain (although people walking along the pavement to use it have no such shelter). But that's just me being picky.