I've previously made a few comments about what a horrible place Newport station is, but after I had to change trains there a few days ago, I'm in full rant mode!
My train arrived at platform 1, I jumped off and looked around for the departure screen. There isn't one! In order to see a list of services and where they will go from you have to go all the way down to the ridiculous golf ball thing at the end of the platform.
I then noticed that half of the platform was marked as 'No access to passengers beyond this point'. When my connection, the Carmarthen bound HST pulled in, it went a long way past the signs prohibiting passengers to use that part of the problem, but everyone just ignored it anyway. Is the sign just to deter photographers?
As the HST was running late, I decided to nip outside for a quick smoke. The guy on the barrier was nice enough, but had a bit of difficulty working out what I wanted to do. He looked at my ticket and seemed a bit clueless as to what or where Llanelli meant. But at least I made it out, and back in, but I still dislike the position of the new entrance and exits compared tot he old one. It's now further away from the centre.
No one else bothered to go to the trouble of leaving the station for a puff, as I saw a couple of people lighting up on the platform - and right next to a no smoking sign at the entrance to the platform while the no smoking announcement was being played!
Finally, and this is nothing to do with the station, I know, but the maps outside defy all mapping conventions by having south at the top! I know the layout of the place and even I was confused trying to work out what was the matter with the map as it didn't look right at all!
I shall never change trains at this god forsaken place again. What a dump!
My train arrived at platform 1, I jumped off and looked around for the departure screen. There isn't one! In order to see a list of services and where they will go from you have to go all the way down to the ridiculous golf ball thing at the end of the platform.
I then noticed that half of the platform was marked as 'No access to passengers beyond this point'. When my connection, the Carmarthen bound HST pulled in, it went a long way past the signs prohibiting passengers to use that part of the problem, but everyone just ignored it anyway. Is the sign just to deter photographers?
As the HST was running late, I decided to nip outside for a quick smoke. The guy on the barrier was nice enough, but had a bit of difficulty working out what I wanted to do. He looked at my ticket and seemed a bit clueless as to what or where Llanelli meant. But at least I made it out, and back in, but I still dislike the position of the new entrance and exits compared tot he old one. It's now further away from the centre.
No one else bothered to go to the trouble of leaving the station for a puff, as I saw a couple of people lighting up on the platform - and right next to a no smoking sign at the entrance to the platform while the no smoking announcement was being played!
Finally, and this is nothing to do with the station, I know, but the maps outside defy all mapping conventions by having south at the top! I know the layout of the place and even I was confused trying to work out what was the matter with the map as it didn't look right at all!
I shall never change trains at this god forsaken place again. What a dump!