Having used St Albans Abbey for the first time ever last Sunday, I had to ask about why the platform is so low for the only train that uses it.
Then, upon doing some searching, I found this: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?releaseid=4576&newsareaid=2
Except, I didn't even notice it when I was there! And looking at the photos, yes, there's less of a gap - but it's still far from ideal.
This is the area where I boarded:
And this is where the new 'hump' is (by the looks of it, much further down):
To be fair; in other photos, the gap looks a lot less but I think that's down to the angle of the photos and possibly a bit misleading.
I realise from the press release that it came down to cost, but why couldn't the hump be bigger and then cover all doors, or at least one hump per carriage? For all the other doors, it's still a big step even for perfectly able bodied people.
And, I had to say that I was quite blown away by how little has been done to modernise the interior. Comfy, but heavily worn, seats - carpeting that has been patched up all over the place, and this...
Now how expensive would it be to replace these with something, you know, not almost 13 years old..?!
However, I was impressed by the fact that it only cost £3.15 return to Watford - and the car park was empty. Literally.
Upon leaving to go to Watford, and then on our return, we had the only car in the car park - and there can't have been more than 10 people on the train in either direction. So, a very easy way to get to/from Watford and being able to park almost on the platform.
I presume it's somewhat busier in the week, but overall I was quite impressed with a line that I've never had reason to use before - but expect I'll be using again.
Then, upon doing some searching, I found this: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/detail.aspx?releaseid=4576&newsareaid=2
Except, I didn't even notice it when I was there! And looking at the photos, yes, there's less of a gap - but it's still far from ideal.
This is the area where I boarded:
And this is where the new 'hump' is (by the looks of it, much further down):
To be fair; in other photos, the gap looks a lot less but I think that's down to the angle of the photos and possibly a bit misleading.
I realise from the press release that it came down to cost, but why couldn't the hump be bigger and then cover all doors, or at least one hump per carriage? For all the other doors, it's still a big step even for perfectly able bodied people.
And, I had to say that I was quite blown away by how little has been done to modernise the interior. Comfy, but heavily worn, seats - carpeting that has been patched up all over the place, and this...
Now how expensive would it be to replace these with something, you know, not almost 13 years old..?!
However, I was impressed by the fact that it only cost £3.15 return to Watford - and the car park was empty. Literally.
Upon leaving to go to Watford, and then on our return, we had the only car in the car park - and there can't have been more than 10 people on the train in either direction. So, a very easy way to get to/from Watford and being able to park almost on the platform.
I presume it's somewhat busier in the week, but overall I was quite impressed with a line that I've never had reason to use before - but expect I'll be using again.
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