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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1421.PDF
London's new city-centre air terminal, seen from the north-east. Flight" photographs London's New Air Terminal ON October 6 London's new city-centre air terminal comesinto operation. Though this transfer from Waterloo toWest London is not wholly voluntary—the South Bank building is due for demolition—the advantages of easier andquicker access to London Airport (the coach journey is expected to take 40 min or less) and improved passenger handling facilitiesare apparent. The new terminal stands on a steel and concrete platformspanning the triangular railway junction adjoining Cromwell Road, between Earls Court and Gloucester Road stations; itmarks the town end of the new Cromwell Road extension. The erection of this platform was put in hand by LondonTransport in February last year. On completion it was handed over to the owners and sponsors, Air Terminals, Ltd.—a com-pany originally formed by B.E.A. (who have an 80 per cent share- holding), B.O.A.C., B.I.A.T.A. and Aer Lingus. The terminal building itself—costing just over £250,000—isthe outcome of close co-operation between the sponsors, the contractors (Richard Costain, Ltd.), B.E.A. and London Trans-port. The speed with which the building went up—it was fin- ished in 3^ months, six weeks ahead of schedule—was largelydue to its novel method of construction. Most of the parts were prefabricated and stored nearby ready for use. The interior layout of the new terminal is simple. Outgoingpassengers arrive at the departures hall on the ground floor, where their tickets are examined and luggage weighed at any one of15 or so check-in desks. There is a special desk to deal quickly with the inevitable late-comers. Luggage goes by moving belt tothe baggage hall for loading. The first floor is a waiting area, where refreshments (and drinks, at a licensed bar) are available.There is a pleasant lounge and several shops. Arrivals from London Airport are disembarked at the rear of the building anddo not cross the track of departing passengers. Parking space on the platform is limited, but considered "adequate." Air Terminals, Ltd., will control the various concessions,including catering, porterage, baggage-loading, maintenance, and so on. Passenger "processing" and transport to and from theAirport will be B.E.A.'s responsibility. Mr. J. O. Hutchinson has been appointed Terminal Manager. There are hopes at least that a permanent combined airstation, with direct rail service to L.A.P., can be built at Victoria. The ideal—as at Gatwick—is to have an out-of-town airportterminal linked with London by rail. Outward-bound passengers will enter this ground-floor departures hall. Passengers arriving will enter this separate area of the ground floor. Left below, the upstairs refreshment bar; and on the right, the spacious lounge, of which the bar is a part.
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