Noticed that various works seem to have started at Bath Spa station, but can find no information about them. (Googling “Bath Spa refurbishment” just brings up articles about the 2017 works). Anyone know what’s being done?
What are Passenger Awareness Monitors? Is this another name for PIS/CIS screens or something different.They have received planning permission for Passengers awareness monitors to be installed
That should probably be in a museum rather than on the platform! It’s one of the most confusing things I’ve ever seen. Does it not suggest that all trains to the north reverse at both Gloucester and again at Great Malvern, Cheltenham is not a significant stop and all trains to the South West stop at Weston-super-Mare? Wales isn’t even mentioned and yet Newport and Cardiff are shown.I hope it doesn’t lead to the loss of this:
(Image shows an unusual line diagram)
They have received planning permission for Passengers awareness monitors to be installed
I hope it doesn’t lead to the loss of this:
(Image shows an unusual line diagram)
Certainly not new (I took that picture in 2014 and the style looks like very early pre-pink Great Western).Presumably this is a passenger counting type system? It will certainly be very busy on a Friday and Saturday night - the busiest part of the week for Bath Spa station!
That's awful - I really hope that isn't a new design and part of this new GBR typeface thing?
And that the South West only starts after Exeter!I also love the idea that The North is everything beyond Great Malvern.
Brings to mind old Southern route diagrams above carriage doors that had Southampton only a short hop from Milton Keynes…That should probably be in a museum rather than on the platform! It’s one of the most confusing things I’ve ever seen. Does it not suggest that all trains to the north reverse at both Gloucester and again at Great Malvern, Cheltenham is not a significant stop and all trains to the South West stop at Weston-super-Mare? Wales isn’t even mentioned and yet Newport and Cardiff are shown.
I’m always fascinated by the signs which appear at junctions roughly between Peterborough and York on the A1 which sayI have always been amused at any use of ‘The North’ on signs. Like it is a place. I can’t imagine many countries use that type of shorthand on signs. The use of compass points is beautifully London centric. You don’t see signs east of the Pennines saying ‘The West’ or vice versa.
I can imagine the signage manual saying something like - use ‘The North’ to assist the Kings troops needing to quell a rebellion/to signify the part of the country the Government can’t really be arsed with.
I’m always fascinated by the signs which appear at junctions roughly between Peterborough and York on the A1 which say
<- THE SOUTH
THE NORTH ->
There’s even one somewhere in Yorkshire that says NORTH & SOUTH (A1)
They might start to now, to distinguish it from a Battersea-bound Northern Line train.A Merseyside passenger would usually say ‘The Southport train’ whereas a London passenger would never say ‘The Morden train’.
In terms of through trains actually heading in those directions from Bath - with the exception of the suggestion that you can get to "the North" via Great Malvern, it's not far off reflecting the basic service offered in terms of "If you want to go to "x" , don't get on a train heading for "y" - because it won't get you there". Passengers for "the North" who board a Great Malvern train should get announcements about changing for "the North" before 3 different stations (Temple Meads, Parkway and Cheltenham - which being an "InterCity" station is a significant stop (you could in fact argue that it is Gloucester that should be "downgraded" on the map)That should probably be in a museum rather than on the platform! It’s one of the most confusing things I’ve ever seen. Does it not suggest that all trains to the north reverse at both Gloucester and again at Great Malvern, Cheltenham is not a significant stop and all trains to the South West stop at Weston-super-Mare? Wales isn’t even mentioned and yet Newport and Cardiff are shown.
Possibly - whatever the work is, it involves the two waiting rooms (which are the places least likely to be being monitored by staff undertaking their usual duties)Are Passenger Awareness Monitors those displays which show the CCTV feed in real-time, to warn people that they're being watched (as often seen in supermarkets for example)?
I find those things so dystopian!! I really hope they don’t take off. I can see why they might work I suppose but it also feels like a step too far.Are Passenger Awareness Monitors those displays which show the CCTV feed in real-time, to warn people that they're being watched (as often seen in supermarkets for example)?
Does it not suggest that all trains to the north reverse at both Gloucester and again at Great Malvern.
It's a visual way of representing possible links from the station. It is not, nor is it supposed to be, a geographically correct map. Both have their place but they convey different information and speed of assimilation.The most disgusting thing about the map in #4 is that it doesn't even preserve clockwise order.
It's certainly NOT true that the diagram in #4 is as easy to read as it would be if it were changed as I suggest. As it is it's very disorienting. Destinations are not where you have the right to expect them to be in relation to other destinations.It's a visual way of representing possible links from the station. It is not, nor is it supposed to be, a geographically correct map. Both have their place but they convey different information and speed of assimilation.
Would suggest that the people most likely to be confused by the diagram are those who don’t actually need it…It's certainly NOT true that the diagram in #4 is as easy to read as it would be if it were changed as I suggest. As it is it's very disorienting. Destinations are not where you have the right to expect them to be in relation to other destinations.
A list without any pretence to be a diagram would be clearer.
But it is confusing, even to me who knows that area very well, having lived in several places covered by it. How much more confusing it must be to an outsider. I have been staring at it for several minutes trying to understand its logic, if any. It looks like it was drawn by a drunk with a T-square.It's a visual way of representing possible links from the station. It is not, nor is it supposed to be, a geographically correct map.
Highly unlikely that you would be changing at Temple Meads as the trains serving Gloucester mostly would have come from Bath in the first placeFor example if I were a stranger going from Bath to Gloucester, and had just changed onto another train at Bristol TM as I would have been advised, I would be very concerned about the fact that my new train was leaving the station in the direction I had just come from. I am a great fan of connectivity maps, like the classic LU map, but they need to show some relationship to reality. The LU map for example shows a route reversal where a reversal is needed, and junctions are shown correctly angled and not as right-angled joins.
Wasn’t the platform widening / lengthening for the IETs (which we have got) rather than the electrification per se. In terms of passenger facilities etc I don’t think anything was done in 2017. I just hope they complete the anti-pigeon spikes…They did an 'outstanding' job refurbishing the station in 2017 - a restricted service using only 1 platform while each platform was extended outwards for the electrification that still hasn't arrived there. Much like the previous closures in 2015 and 2016 that saw vast track lowering work done through the Box Tunnel, Sydney Gardens, etc., that, while good for replacing end of life track, still hasn't seen its purpose applied.
Is now a good time to point out a possible route via SwindonHighly unlikely that you would be changing at Temple Meads as the trains serving Gloucester mostly would have come from Bath in the first place
The track (both the Up Main and the Down Main) was moved towards the former old through (middle) road away from the platform edges. Then each platform was extended outwards towards the new track alignment. By doing this, it means that when (if) the OHL is provided, there is enough clearance to the station canopy/roof.Wasn’t the platform widening / lengthening for the IETs (which we have got) rather than the electrification per se. In terms of passenger facilities etc I don’t think anything was done in 2017. I just hope they complete the anti-pigeon spikes…