in the following description referring first to a so called u201c compact diaphragm u201d design as illustrated by fig1 which reproduces the relevant features of fig2 of the co owned published united states patent application publication no 2008 0170939 shown in fig1 is a partial radial sectional sketch of an axial flow turbine showing a section of rings of stationary blades or diaphragm located between successive annular rows of moving blades 12 13 in a steam turbine the moving blades are each provided with radially inner u201c t root u201d portions 14 15 located in corresponding slots 16 17 machined in the rim of a rotor drum 18 their tips are also provided with radially outer elements referred to as shrouds 19 20 in the example shown the shrouds carry the moving parts of a labyrinth seal the circumscribing segmented rings 21 22 support the static part of the seal these are rigidly connected to the upstream and downstream diaphragm rings 33 34 which in turn are mounted within the casing 10 of the turbine connected to the diaphragm rings 33 34 are the static vanes 30 31 as known sealing between the blade tips or shrouds 19 20 and the rings 21 22 is accomplished by lips or fins 23 24 which are caulked into grooves machined in the segmented rings 21 22 thus forming a conventional labyrinth seal in the following description the labyrinth seal of fig1 is replaced by film riding seals in various arrangements as further detailed below making reference to fig2.