Great Western Coffee Shop

Yesterday, 01 September 2007, I decide that with nothing else planned I would take a trip to Weymouth.

First snag my train from Yate arrives at BTM at 0804, the same time as the 0804 leaves for Weymouth.

Saw it leave, a 150 and a 153.

A TPE liveried 3 car 158 (158798) draws into platform 5 and awaits the incoming service from Cardiff, couples and forms the 0904 to Weymouth, now a 5 car 158.

Uneventful journey running a few minutes late by journeys end but every seat on the train was needed as passengers from Yeovil were hard pressed to find 2 seats together.

At Maiden Newton a load of hikers bailed out.

At Weymouth (arrived Platform 1) 3-car 158 uncoupled and shunted to platform 2 to join, but not couple to, 153 from previous 0804 service from Bristol.

Whilst on forward journey I also pointed out to a number of passengers brandishing all three timetable types, Heart of Wessex line pamplet, FGW pocket timetable and credit card sixe line timetable that they were all wrong and showed a return service at 1749 when in fact it was at 1721. Arrival at Weymouth and perusal of the line timetable posted in the foyer at the station confirmed this to them.

Arriving back at the station for the 1721 back to Bristol, I walked down the platform and noticed rubbish over the tables of the 3-car 158, some neatly bagged and tied in supermarket bags for ease of cleaning by thoughful passengers from the forward journey, but other visible rubbish was empty beer cans and coke bottles. At least the six females travelling to Weymouth for a 'Hen Night Weekend' and who were sat in the vacinity of myself did put their empty Carling cans in the rubbish bin behind one of their seats.

A SWT service from Waterloo arrived and within seconds of the last passenger disembarking from the end door of the last carriage a cleaner, female and smartly dressed in standard SWT issue uniform and carrying an empty see thru plastic bin liner boarded and started a sweep through the train for rubbish. A male colleague had started at the other end and both met up in the last but one carriage of the 5-car train.

I would say that within 5 minutes of that train arriving the interior was as spotless as one could get it at a terminal station.

On the other hand the FGW unit which had sat in platform 2 since its arrival there at about noon was still in the untidy state that it had arrived and been left by the inbound passengers.

In an even worse state was the inbound service due to arrive at 1709. This service was a Wessex branded 158, One rubbish bin in the train was jammed full of John Smiths Bitter cans, there were about 6 ermpty Sainsburys carrier bags aroung the carriage and I did notice a Sainburys till receipt which I looked at and it was for 10 4-packs of John Smiths bitter and was from the Frome store. Judging by the number of empty cans strewn about I can well imagine all were drunk en route. Also stewn about were newspapers clearly indicating where the train had come from, South Wales with the South Wales Argos, and Bristol with the Bristol Evening Post, The Sun, The Mirror and The times were other titles I noticed.

The inbound 158 coupled up with the 3-car 158 and I'll call it 'the rubbish pit' set off to Bristol a minute or two down but this was recovered by Catle Cary.

A smartly dressed female who boarded at Westbury refused to sit with, I presume, her boyfriend in one pair of seats, to use her words, 'I'm not sitting there amongst that lot of trash', and walked on through the carriage to seats towards the centre of the coach.

Not very impressed with FGW 'after sales service' today.

Your report Marty on the state of cleanliness of FGW stock at Weymouth doesnt surprise me. I doubt SWT staff go anywhere near FGW stock when it arrives at Weymouth if they can help it. Its a shame the National Rail slogan 'Britain's Rail companies working together' in many cases doesnt really apply as all the companies involved in running the railways are fierce competitors both on the bus and rail networks.

I think you will find that FGW pay SWT to clean their trains for them, so it sounds like they are wasting their money, and ought to ask for a refund

Probably pay back for having to put up with the hassle of FGW passengers in the summer who cant get on a two car 150 on a hot sunday afternoon and take it out on the SWT staff as they wouldnt know the difference. Most people probably still think that because the British Rail logo is on all the stations that it is still one company running the trains.

Not usually one to frequent the Weymouth area, out of interest, does anyone know what rolling stock FGW uses here?

Plus the 67s & mk 2s on the Saturday High Summer service.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that 153s don't get to Weymouth very often as they try to avoid sending lone 153s up the 1 in 50 climb at Evershot Bank. Of course Pacer's never get to Weymouth as they can't run over the juice rail!

TLM

it could be anything except a 143,if a 153 is down there it is normally coupled to something else.

At approx 1750, a full FGW HST passed through Upwey, heading in the Dorchester direction.

Is this an additional non-timetabled service, or was it the 'loco-hauled' train running an hour late?

Unless Virgin used HSTs through to Weymouth (which I don't think they did), would I be correct in suggesting it is the first visit since the late 1980s, when Intercity ran a special through from Bournemouth?

Regards

Luke

Just had a look at the live journey information, and I believe that the HST was operating the 1730 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads rather than the loco hauled diagram. Was running 22 down when I last looked.

Regards

43124 + OC49 + 43041
2O90 1449 BRI-WEY
2V93 1730 WEY-BRI

67016 + CP02 + 67017
2O79 0909 BRI-WEY
2V67 1655 WEY-BRI

Quite an impressive line up for Weymouth  :D

So does anyone know why the HST ran?   

Presume the unit was short-formed after the farce at Bradford On Avon earlier.

Does anybody know if an HST will be working this service regularly on this year's summer saturdays?

Extremely unlikely, it didn't keep to timings at all well.

Could be a bit of squeeze on the 0915 BTM-Weymouth today:

09:15 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth due 11:27
This train will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 5.This is due to an earlier train fault.

This may affect the 1800 return journey this evening as the same stock that forms 0915 down service forms this train unless some re-gigging can be done to strengthen this train before this evening.

UPDATE: the 1800 managed to find an extra carriage!

18:00 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:20
This train will be formed of 4 coaches instead of 5.This is due to an earlier train fault.

what farce?

Units all misplaced after fatality.

Going off topic here, but does the Loco Hauled service operate on Sunday...? if so, does anybody know the timings... ;D

No, it doesn't.

Boring >:(

Could do with an HST heading to Weymouth again this afternoon as it could be a bit of a sqeeze this evening as the scheduled 5 carriages for the 1730 Weymouth to Bristol will be just a single 2 carriage unit. To FGW's credit, road transport is being provided fast to Westbury:

17:30 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads due 20:05
This train has been revised.This train will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5.This is due to an earlier train fault.

Additional road transport will be in operation running non-stop from Weymouth to Westbury at 17:30.

Not likely, HST fleet is already quite stretched:

1x Relief Penzance - Paddington
2x Relief Plymouth - Paddington

and earlier
1000 Cardiff - Taunton
1211 Taunton - Bristol were formed of an HST.

Not sure what has happened to cause this drop in unit availability!

Not been the best of weekend for it to happen being a bank holiday/half term week.

Surely though if the HST was that stretched, they wouldn't have been able to diagram that additional HST last Saturday? Wouldn't that set be available at the same time next Saturday?

HSTs to Weymouth aren't a feasible option. 8 carriages is too many, and they require a special type of bogie to avoid risk of shorting out on the 3rd rail.

the only way hst's would run to time on that service without removing stops is to remove coaches, too much messing around for one service

Hmmm - while I understand about the length of the trains being a problem - I cannot see the 3rd rail being an issue.

HSTs have run regularly to Bournemouth, Poole and Portsmouth in the past, as well as diversions into Waterloo and i'm told no modification had to be made to them. If the risk of them shorting out was that great, HSTs would be banned from 3rd rail lines as per 143s surely?

yeh you dont normally see mk 3's bouncing like pacers

For Hsts to run on 3rd rail they need Short Swing Link SSL bogies. XC sets had these.

this is a wild guess... im guessing the chance of actual contact is very slim if not impossible? is it to prevent arc'ing

The Sprinter Meister is the person to ask. I read a detailed answer of his elsewhere today.

Buffet Refurbishment possibly...?

HST was definitely a 'last minute' decision caused by acute set shortages mainly caused by the fatality near 'Tuckers' crossing, Bradford on Avon. Set was operated by a 'High Speed' (HSS) crew (Bristol based presumably), as they had the traction knowledge, with them being piloted by a 'West' crew (Bristol or Westbury based), as they had the route knowledge.

One way an untrained eye can tell if an FGW HST set is formed of SSL fitted vehicles is that the letters SSL or LSL are usually displayed at the ends of the carriages, depending on which type is fitted.

Indeed. On Saturday 2x158/9s and 1x150/2 were taken out for inspection after than fatality.

8 carriages is quite a substantial amount!

To be fair this is not the first time a FGW HST has run over 3rd rail territory this year, dont forget they sent a HST set down to Fratton in January for the Portsmouth vs Swansea match.

Twice!

Hi, fullspeedahead - thanks for your post, and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum!  :)

Thanks very much. Been reading the forums for some time and so decided to join.

After reading this post I've been keeping an eye out and haven't so far spotted a single FGW HST set that does not have all vehicles marked "SSL", so from a purely technical point of view regular HST services over the 3rd rail could be feasible.

From an operational point of view, platform length and slow acceleration would be the main barriers I suspect.
8 Coaches is too long for a number of stations on the Portsmouth-Cardiff route for instance,  shame since a reintroduced Portsmouth to Penzance service on a HST would be quite a pleasant ride I'm sure.

As far as I'm aware the trips down to Fratton were at police insistence- Imagine the scene if the away supporters got to the station and saw that the 17.31 was a 3-car 158!  :o

There are trailers which don't have SSL bogies but I am sure I read somewhere that what is now wrote on the trailers is not necessarily the truth.

Another went today!!!
1749 ex Bristol, and it was very, very late!
The computer says 52 late back into Bristol!

Reading the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff Central railway station) page on Cardiff Central it currently states that FGW will run a Cardiff (or wherever in South Wales) -> Weymouth train in 2012 prior to the Summer Olympics.

Given Wikipedia's renowned unreliability for fact, Can anyone here confirm this?

Probably hasn't been finalised so I wouldn't trust anything on Wiki that isn't referenced.

Sounds perfectly plausible though - no-one said anything about using HSTs in this case. It's not so many years ago a lot of Weymouth services originated/terminated at Cardiff. I used to catch one such regularly on a Saturday morning which always switched to an ATW crew at Bath for some reason.

had a set with 2 LSL Trailers Yesterday

Are there many sections on the Cardiff - Portsmouth route that have a speed limit high enough to justify having some permanent HST services?  I'm thinking that during rush hour and popular off-peak times, a couple of HSTs would be more than welcome serving this route, especially if they reduced the journey time slightly!

Almost certainly not!

I don't know if an HST would be able to keep to 158 timings either - it may be that the acceleration isn't good enough. Then there's the issue of SSL vs. LSL bogies over the third rail and it all gets rather complicated!

Bath - Bristol is probably the only section where an HST "trumps" a 158 on top speed.

The Fratton - Cardiff service went via Eastleigh and Chandlers Ford apparently because HSTs are too heavy for the Hamble bridge near Bursledon, therefore missing out Southampton. I guess that wouldn't be too successful an alteration in the peaks...

Paul

Or at all!

Travel to Southampton is one of the more popular 'flows' on that route.

Certainly it's the only journey i've ever made on Cardiff - Portsmouth trains in the direction of the south coast!

Wow I am suprised. I would not mind sitting in the quiet carriage on the way to Weymouth.

Hi

I thought you might like to know that the Weymouth Vintage Bus Running Day is once again being held on Sunday 20th June 2010. FREE vintage buses run to all different places in and around Weymouth including Bowleaze Cove, Nothe Fort and Portland Bill and much more. The event will be held at Weymouth College which is right next to Lodmoor Coach Park and the Sea Life Centre. The FREE bus service 454 will connect Weymouth Railway Station to the rally site at 09:55, 10:45, 11:15, 11:45 and approximately hourly thereafter.

This event attracts a large number of visitors every year and is very popular, including this event which is being held in Torquay on Sunday 5th September 2010. 

I would highly recommend the Portland Bill bus ride as this journey gives spectacular views of Chesil Beach. There is a static display of buses next to the departure area with stalls selling a wide range of bus and train merchandise. Me and my mum attended last year and it was very enjoyable and fun to have FREE bus rides on vintage buses. We shall be attending again this year by train and then taking the FREE bus service from the railway station forecourt to the rally site (approx 10 mins journey).

For more information visit www.weymouthvbrd.co.uk and if you do decide to attend have a lovely day and we will see you there.

Many Thanks

Thanks very much for posting that, James 158: I've just added it to our calendar, as well.

C.  ;)

What calendar?

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?action=calendar

There's a link to it, in the bar towards the left-hand top of the screen, just under your username login details.

C.  :)

Me and my mum have just come back from Weymouth after spending 2 days staying with a friend. We caught the bus on Thursday at 06:38 and arrived Weymouth at 14:29. We caught all First Bus services and had to change 3 times. The ticket we bought is called FirstDay South West and costs ^8.00 before 09:00 and ^7.10 after 09:00 for a adult (^5.60 for a student and ^5.80 for a child). The journey details are below:-

Bristol - Wells (service 376)
Wells - Yeovil (service 377)
Yeovil - Bridport (service 47)
Bridport - Weymouth (service 31 or X53)

We were originally going to stay in a Guest House but they were all fully booked so a good friend offered to put us up for the night. We then went back out and went on the bus to Lyme Regis (service 31 or X53). We then caught the last bus back to Weymouth after spending 1hour 35 mins there.

The following day we just relaxed on a bench on the esplanade in Weymouth before catching the last train back to Bristol Temple Meads at 20:21 (unfortunately it wasn't cancelled as we did not want to go back home). If this service was cancelled what would FGW have done? We bought our ticket on the train costing ^12.45 for an off peak single with the Family & Friends Railcard. The train was lovely and peaceful until Bath Spa where hords of drunk people boarded shouting and singing all the way to BTM. It is like this all the way from Weymouth on Saturday nights. According to a poster at Weymouth Railway Station FGW have now banned alcohol on the 20:21 Weymouth to BTM service on Saturdays due to the rowdy lot that get on. They now need to consider banning alcohol all the time. BTP also need to make a presence on this service to keep an eye out for any trouble.

Provided alternative transport, i.e. a bus or taxis. It's all covered in the conditions of carriage. ::)

And on the alcohol point, it doesn't do a lot of good banning alcohol on the service if people are already well oiled before they get on board - like you said, they only travelled from bath to Bristol. That must have taken all of 15 minutes. Not even I could put away enough booze to do that much damage in 15 minutes.

You'd enjoy the last one back from Bristol to Frome on Saturdays then...

Or indeed either of the last two services from Temple Meads to Paddington on a Saturday...

Why would we? Is it full of drunks. They would not have that on the Rail Replacement Buses to Frome.

Why?

You've answered your own question two posts above.

And rail replacement buses suffer from exactly the same problem, trust me. I've experienced it at first hand.

Did anybody attend the Weymouth Vintage Bus Running Day. It was a fantastic event yesterday.

i wish i went! i belive my fav a gm buses metrobus was in attendance looking very smart :-) photo from the owner below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markamis/4718881050/

It was an excellent day. The vintage bus rides were good. Portland Bill was the best journey as it gives panoramic views of Chesil Beach when climbing up steep hills. The attendance was good. The stalls and stands were interesting selling a wide range of bus and train products. We went on every bus route apart from the ''mystery tour'' as there was no room left on the bus for us.

From the Dorset Echo (http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/8272388.Calls_to_tear_up_Weymouth_s_tramway_lines/):

While I genuinely have every sympathy with Becky Leeming, I do think that her sentiments about 'getting rid of' those currently disused, but historic, tramlines (just for the sake of it) could be applied, rather more relevantly, to the present and rather more dangerous potholes and raised drain covers that we cyclists also have to deal with.

 ::)

I tend to agree with Chris's sentinments.

It's intersting that the same thing used to said about tramlines in major towns.

I recall my mother saying she used to cycle into Southampton every day before the war and she was always very careful about crossing tramlines and they could be tricky in the wet.

But there is one thing to said about tramlines rather than potholes and drain covers they are always in the same place and don't appear suddenly in front of you.

Update on this from the Dorset Echo
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/9306448._Danger__Weymouth_quayside_tracks_to_be_filled/?ref=mr

I've come a cropper twice while riding my bicycle along Bristol's harbourside where there are similar embedded tracks.

I get off and wheel my bike across at certain points now.

One of the points raised elsewhere is that although it is known as a tramway, they are actually normal rails and parallel checkrails, so the gap is much deeper than you get with a normal street tram rail cross section.

It will never be used again now so I reckon they should just get on and dig it up...

Paul

The Highway Code places a clear responsibility on the road users who's reading the code (which will be cyclists, motorcyclists, car, van, lorry and bus drivers - presumably in addition to tram drivers) and having been given that responsibility, it's a bit rich to claim a danger.  Heck - lorries are a danger to cyclists too, but there's no proposal to ban them; we ask the cyclists to take care.


Having said which ... as it stands, the Weymouth tramway is the worst of both worlds ... it's not used, but at the same time it probably adds an element of risk.  What a further tourist draw it would be if a shuttle passenger service were to run from the back of Comet down to the Quay. I was thinking "steam train" but one could also consider tram, with a terminal loop in front of the station. My heart says "keep it in that way" but my head says that if that can't be the case, then there is a case for taking it out.

Does it cost any money to maintain? if not or if the cost is minimal how much would it cost to remove?

How do the cyclists in Fleetwood, Wolverhampton, Sheffield, Manchester, Croydon (and soon to be joined by Edinburgh) - all of which have street running trams - cope when it seems cyclists in Weymouth cannot?

And cyclists in Porthmadog where the Welsh Highland line runs along the street to the Ffestiniog railway station?

Come to think of it, how do cyclists cope with all those potentially dangerous rails at level crossings on the national rail network?

Perhaps cyclists in Weymouth should take a tip from cyclists in these towns and take care to avoid the tram lines.  An appropriate warnng sign might help them.     

Despite the name, the line in Weymouth is not really a tramway, there are normal rails and sleepers buried under the road surface, the gap is more like that between a mainline running rail and checkrail.  Therefore the gap is significantly deeper than a modern tram rail, where the recess is only about the same depth as a wheel flange.


They generally ride straight across the rails, not along them...   ::)

What's the use of keeping the Weymouth tramway? As far as I can see it's almost entirely pointless these days - there's very little shipping from the harbour, absolutely no demand for services and in any case they'd be a regulatory nightmare to reinstate on public roads. Add to that the fact that there's a signal or some other fairly permanent structure erected in the four-foot of the line just south of Weymouth station and it would seem to me that the chances of any sort of traffic running over the line is virtually zero.

The track really isn't all that historic, and just creates a risk for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. Would anyone really genuinely miss it if it was removed?

It's a waste of money removing it

Concur. 

While it remains in situ 'enthusiasts' will carry on with all sorts of amazing ideas for how it could be used, but a few minutes online research suggests that the only official debate is centred on who should pay to remove it. 

NR will probably be hoping that the local council bites the bullet whenever resurfacing of the road is needed.

Paul

from http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/10818220._/?

Despite the "celebrations" both being of closures (should they really be celebrated?) the article contains some interesting historical information and commentary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-28141829

..hopefully, but I'm not optimistic

Probably totally impractical and IMHO of all the re-opening schemes discussed on this forum, the least likely to be able to provide a viable business case as part of the national network.  As a self-contained one-tram-working tourist attraction, there may be a case, but as the trains only ever travelled at walking pace through the narrow street section, as a serious Park and Ride option (again IMHO) a non-starter.

We may need to be content with the You Tube videos of the 'glory' days.

Hadn't the local authority started the ball rolling to 'officially' close the line so that it could be lifted?

Interesting that the stub of the Quay branch is still available, e.g. for parking the Saturday HST during busy periods:

(http://stevestrainpics.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/5/6905506/1238474_orig.jpg?684)

http://stevestrainpics.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/5/6905506/1238474_orig.jpg?684  (found via wnxx)

Paul

I lived in Weymouth during its last years of regular operation. The slow speed was as much due to parked cars having to be cleared off the line as well as the safety issues of a heavy railway on the street.

With a regular tram / light railway service maybe this wouldn't be much of a problem, although I can't see what business case could be made for it.

Incidentally, the line from Weymouth Station to Weymouth Quay which served the Channel Island ferries is the subject of a rescue bid to save it from being ripped up. The aim seems to model it on the likes of the Bristol Docks Railway or the Chatham Dockyard railway. It's been started by quite a young chap who began it all with more enthusiasm than experience but has been gradually learning the ropes and has lost none of his drive to make something happen. The Weymouth Quay Heritage Campaign page on Facebook is quite informative.

Good luck to anyone trying that - there have been many attempts to turn it into a tramway of some kind most latterly for the Olympics; the main problem hitherto is that it doesn't do anything like a really useful journey end-to-end to make it financially viable.

In view of some renewed interest in this particular set of rails, in discussions on the Coffee Shop forum, I've now moved and merged a couple of threads here.  :)

From (my) Facebook post


It's MASSIVE good news that the TransWilts Sunday service starts now and henceforth at 09:00 on on Sunday morning all year rather that 2 hours later in Winter.   Not (yet) running as far as Swindon ... but just wait.

Recent reliability issues have lead me to delay this announcement here, with advise from GWR to check today to see if the train's running tomorrow.    However, GWRHelp told me earlier today


but added when I quoted recent weekend record of last minute issues

P.S.  Outbound to Weymouth - 09:17 ex Swindon with an extra change at Chippenham.   Return evening train should go all the way Westbury to Swindon (and then carries on to Cheltenham Spa)

(https://sophieduffy.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/iron-man-comp.jpg)

A one off (for now at least) return for me, purely because I happen to be on site right now.

No trains have run to Weymouth Quay since the late 1990s, which is obviously an awfully long time ago now. If someone were to try and organise a theoretical railtour to Weymouth Quay in the present day late 2010s, can those with knowledge of these things give an idea of what would need to be done to make it feasible?

I think this would have been done by the railtour companies by now if it were at all possible.

I understand that current H&S rules won't allow it, and nor would NR.

I do not think is will ever see trains again. This link may be of interest



http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/weymouth-quay-line/

PARTIAL data, Lee ... to start you off

a) The Quay station has (or had when I was there) a fence / vertical post for a fence right on the platform at about the north end of the building which would need to be removed if you wanted to get more that about 1 carriage into the platform

b) There is significant undergrowth on the track where it leads onto railway land just to the west of the main Weymouth station; how much is just summer growth and how much would need to be cut back, I don't know

c) I think I read that the state of the sleepers / ties under the road surface in the area alongside the quays where points use to be is poor - may be so poor that they would not support a train.

Knowing all the H&S issues with heavy rail, perhaps a lightweight diesel or petrol tram brought in on a low loader .... driver up front, trips between the little 'island' area that's off the main road near the bus garage and the north end of the quay station?

As far as I can tell from the current online sectional appendix, dated June 2017, the first part of the branch is (although overgrown) is theoretically open as a siding, from 168 m 31 ch, to the point at 168 m 52 ch, say a quarter mile. That puts the railway operational boundary right at the road crossing behind B&Q.  Depending on how you measure it the boundary might even be the south side of that road, hence including the 'crossing'.   

However beyond that point the tramway is declared permanently out of use, and no longer included in the track line drawing.  I reckon they ought to get on and finalise the full closure.

Paul

Wow. Somewhere on the yootoobz I've seen a video which shows this:
But I don't recall it showing either this:
or this:

This gives more detail and indicates the line south of the road now belongs to the Borough Council. There is a very strong cycling lobby asking for the removal of the rails since bikes get stuck in the gap between the rail and guard rail.

http://www.island-publishing.co.uk/quaybrch.htm

John Lucking's 1986 book on the Weymouth tramway is full of photos.

Documents in the National Archive indicate that the first scheme for a tramway went from the station to the esplanade and down the front by the sea all the way to the pier! It was rejected unsurprisingly.

There is a sort campaign to keep it open:
https://www.change.org/p/weymouth-weymouth-quay-heritage-railway

Yes, I travelled behind a loco & coach set a couple of times when it still ran, and can recall this....


No, maybe in steam days?

There is a large selection of images on Google-search Weymouth tramway. Some show the men walking in front of the train.

There was a summer timetabled service in the 1990s using a 37/4 laying over from the normal service. An airline style meal was served on the journey to Yeovil Pen Mill where the train stopped, then returning to Weymouth station.

... and I've just done the same, again, in the interests of clarity and completeness.  ;) :D ;D

Picture here showing said bell on the front of a class 33:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weymouth_Harbour_Tramway#/media/File%3A33109_Weymouth_Harbour_Tramway_August_1981.jpg (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weymouth_Harbour_Tramway#/media/File%3A33109_Weymouth_Harbour_Tramway_August_1981.jpg)

Like this video? (https://youtu.be/x6XEVvVRB_4)

I think that's the very one I've seen.

Today and tomorrow(14/15th of August) the 15.50 Waterloo is being extended from Yeovil Junction to Weymouth, returning at 22.17 to Salisbury. This is in connection with the Weymouth Carnival.
Sadly, today’s working has already been cancelled due to lack of crew.

New thinking emerges for Weymouth Quay line after field trip to Thailand... (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=327132754728685&id=1012606228843914)

Not so far off the mark when the tramway was running only it was cars.

My first job at Waterloo, as well as making the tea, was filing reports headed "Train hit Car" at least once a week in summer.

Calling only at Yeovil Pen Mill (intermediate)

No short-form trains showing

Has traffic on the line outgrown the train capacity??

And its not even the school summer hols yet !!!!

After looking at the CIS information there do not appear to be any short forms on the route today

The service from London Victoria certainly had its full compliment of carriages as it passed me at Templecombe!

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=21886.0

The same two services were put on Journeycheck early on Monday but quickly removed.

Wonder if it’s a standby service in the event of short forms or exceptional weather bringing out the crowds during the school holidays bearing in mind there is no extra Summer Saturday service during the week or the SWR services that operate Saturdays only.

During school holidays there will be spare coaches to hand to have a standby service that can be called upon at short notice.

I was on the train yesterday from Bath that arrived at Yeovil Pen Mill at 10.12. It certainly wasn't short-formed, it was either 5 or 6 carriages long. I was in the rear carriage and after most people had got out at Bath Spa, it was fairly empty, and for the last part of the journey after Frome I was the only passenger in that carriage - an experience I haven't had on any journey for a very long time. The guard did say the front of the train had been very busy, but there was certainly plenty of spare capacity at the rear.

I got out at Yeovil and there didn't seem to be many people either getting on or off there.

Today, Journey Check says those two additional services are cancelled - due to overcrowding!

Coming across to me as George Orwell's doublespeak!

Journey Check on SWR is quite informative but that on GWR seems to put forward the reason from a small, inflexible set of reasons. It seems that there is a multiple choice table of reasons from which you select the most appropriate.
Whereas on SWR you are given a statement which is more realistic with more operator input.

Only thing I don't like about SWR's Journeycheck is that it only shows services for the next two hours.

Yes, for some reason that has only just become regular. Previously it was only done at times of disruption. Perhaps a setting has been changed and not reversed.

Looks like the 1740 relief bus out of Weymouth will be well used tonight due to...


Leading to...


Anyone know what the fault is?

One engine out on 158955.

And that would explain why they REALLY don't want it to go down the hill into Weymouth!

Indeed, it probably wouldn’t get back up.

Or, as I heard an exasperated shopkeeper say once "I'm fed up of telling folk there's no demand for it!".

Looking at outcomes on Real Time Trains, return train set off from Dorchester West about 5 minutes late which (if information systems had worked effectively) would have allowed the majority of passengers from Weymouth to catch the 17:20 Waterloo train and walk between stations in Dorchester.   It was back on time after Westbury.

More problems heading to the seaside today. A Cardiff to Weymouth railtour experienced delays on its way to Castle Cary. It missed its slot to Yeovil Pen Mill and was thus further delayed waiting for a Weymouth - Gloucester GWR service.

That railtour delay at Castle Cary also delayed the Waterloo - Corfe Castle SWR service behind it.

Dorset Echo (five months ago - must have missed it then - re-lifed via Facebook)

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17422500.campaign-for-better-transport-calls-for-weymouth-harbour-tramway-to-be-reopened/


Article goes on to cover the history of the tramway and has brought lots of comment

I'd be interested in seeing an up to date H&S assessment....

Probably no worse than any other street running tramway.

The main problem when the boat train was running was cars parked inside the yellow lines. In places they were some distance from the running rail due to the overhang of the mark 1s on curves. So drivers thought they could park just over the line and got hit by the train! Also the length of the train. So similar problems would arise if it was a steam/diesel heritage operation.

A modern tram would have much less overhang and be shorter. The only problems with a modern tram would be that it is potentially  faster and quieter than a steam train

Station Toilets locked up due to vandalism,and no train/s in the station
One passenger requested if station staff could open one of the toilets and the station staff opened one of the toilets.
Another pasenger requested the same thing,and was told "use the trains toilets" as a train was now in the station.

Weymouth Station and the area around it certainly didn't feel welcoming when I was there last Sunday.  Greeted by a revenue protection blockade, then (when clear of the platform) finding that the toilets were all locked.  A general uncared-for look - things like near-empty literature racks, and various laminated signs instructing passengers how to behave. Later in the day, a lack of enough seating for those people who had come back from the town in good time for the return train home, but which wasn't yet available to them and a heavy police presence. 

This "Welcome to Weymouth" message has extended beyond the station. Anyone anxious for a loo will find that the businesses on Queen Street just outside have "toilets for customer use only" signs, and the big advert on the Weyline Taxi office that faces you as you head out from the station offer you good fares to HMP Verne as its headline.  It does talk about return fares, at least!

First thoughts is "the vandals have won".  But I have no proof of that; not been in the loos, don't know how big a battle has been fought or whether they're a convenient excuse to provide only minimal facilities ... and that minimal facilities are a good way to keep non-travellers who are considered undesirable away from the station.

Weymouth station is a poor first greeting to visitors to the town. Toilets have been closed ‘due to vandalism’ for a few years now. The lack of literature in the racks is a more recent thing but adds to the ‘we don’t care’ look and feel of this station.

SWR need to make more effort with this station but with the keys to the franchise probably due to be handed back soon to dft, I doubt they care.

I think Weymouth station just about sums up how much things have slipped on the SW mainline these past few years.

I first met Graham outside the toilets at Weymouth Station (stop it!!) - so it isn't all bad.

Seriously though I do agree it doesn't create a good shop window for the place in the way, say, Brighton Station does.

My understanding is that, according to the terms of TOC franchises, the stations need to be handed back/over in the same state or better than they were in on receipt. Working toilets would surely be a part of that but I suppose they could be repaired just prior to handover in order to minimise the risk of repeat repairs. If that is the case,  what then does that say about TOC station maintenance Ts and Cs?

Whilst at Weymouth today I noticed that the notices state that the toilets are closed on the advice of BTP.  I also understand that the problems on the 2023 departure have now transfered to earlier departures because of the police presence on the former service

Last time I went to Weymouth, I didn't go out the front of the station - our train did a rather odd manoeuvre involving backing up and then heading off down Commercial Road - which was a lot of fun and had the added benefit that my eyes were not assaulted by the truly abysmal station building.

Actually, from the dates I suspect that it was in the process of being built (if that is the correct term for assembling an architectural wart) when I last passed through. It is a product of the era that brought us the Serpell Report and the dequadrification of Filton Bank. If it acts as a magnet for ne'er-do-wells, then little wonder - its architecture is so similar to that of a Young Offenders' Institute, they probably feel right at home.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/weyloogone.jpg)

Sorry but I have to disagree. The issue with Weymouth (and similar seaside and holiday towns) is not the infrastructure but more that changes to social care, increasing numbers of anti-social elements and the growth of care in the community (amongst other policies) has led to the under-funded police and (para-)medical services as the only way to handle certain members of the population. Weymouth station is slap bang in the middle of a depressed seaside town with a huge drugs and drink problem so it's no wonder it's ended up the way it has. It's also the destination for a great number of summer travellers (mostly from Yeovil and points North) who's only aim is to get absolutely paralytic. The only way to avoid the issue would be to have the building permanently walled off with one or two entrance points and/or a permanent security staff presence. I can't see many on here welcoming either a walled-up station or an increase in their ticket prices to pay for heavy 24x7 security.

And frankly the current station architecture while not perfect is vastly better than the old dump with far better access to and from the car park/drop-off points, together with better disabled access.

I don't know Weymouth but my general thoughts coincide with MrC's above. My first thoughts on seeing "toilets closed due to criminal misuse" (note misuse not damage) is "shooting gallery" and on knowing this is a seaside town, I add a depressed local economy and stag parties. (Yes, that's a lot of stereotyping in one sentence: by no means all stag parties are destructive, some coastal towns are thriving and there might be other reasons for this specific toilet closure - but as a generality, those are my thoughts.)

The current Weymouth Station (building) was built around 1983 to replace the vast and decaying Brunel era wooden relic. This had received bomb damage in the war and heavily modified to make is safe/usable. It was far too large for the then current traffic and much land was surrendered mainly for retail use! When new it was quite an improvement but is slightly neglected now. I am a regular traveller to Weymouth and, have perhaps once, seen the toilets locked out of use. They have not been closed "for years." They are, however, never currently available in the eveings - presumably once the ticket office closes. This has been the situation for a long time.

If I have not used the 20.21 Sat for a while now and maybe it is getting worse but I have had few negative experiences.

From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-48995925) earlier today ...


The article picks out Northern England ... but I wonder about some towns in the South West too, including Weymouth.

Lots of history and very interesting pictures at http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/weymouth/

An article from the Dorset Echo (https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17214326.dorset-coastal-forum-bid-for-funding-including-weymouth-train-station-revamp/) from last November was just recycled on my feeds for some reason ...


The comments on the article, as ever, set the local mood though ...







There seems to be elements in Weymouth who are less than proud of their station ...

From Gloucesterhire Live (https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/regional-news/urine-trouble-british-transport-police-3145722)


Does strike me that just about all options to perform a natural body function that some of us need quite regularly are being taken away.  Wise advise I was given on how to say no:
* Express regret
*.Give reason
* Suggest alternative
With a practical alternative, fair enough but everyone has been reading "just say no".

I wonder if BTP at Weymouth have their own / access to staff toilets ...

The trains generally have a toilet. Those without a ticket shouldn't rely on stations

They should be able to rely on a station toilet if like Bristol the LA has shut all public loos.

 ;D

Indeed ... there really should be a minimum level of toilet provision.   For those meeting and greeting, seeing people off, arriving back at the station in good time, awaiting a delayed or cancelled train, just arrived thinking "we'll go to the loo when we get there", etc.   There are public loos in Weymouth - on the front, about 200 yards from the station.  Think some are still open but some closed.

Just on the train is - in my opinion - below that minimum level for a place like Weymouth.

Not if the TOC would need to pay for full-time security, I don't.

It is OK to say "go on the train".  My very crowded 3 coach train to Weymouth last Saturday only had one out of three toilets in working order.  I suspect that ran out of water long before the end of the day.

Reminds me of a two (or was it three) coach Sprinter I got back from after the Cardiff FA Cup final in 2006. I had been in the huge queue outside Cardiff Central for what felt like an age, just missing being allowed through for the previous service. "Bursting" would be an understatement of mine and my fellow travellers condition by the time of the following service (due to a small amount of drowning of sorrows). Fortunately, I was first on the train when station staff allowed the queue to move again and first to it's loo. There was still a queue for it through the coach when I got off at Temple Meads.

Edit: I still feel more reassured using a public convenience only used by people who have already ( in theory at least) purchased a railway ticket.

I've been away in Weymouth this weekend, so had a chance to see how much of a disappointment the station is. I have been there many times before, as I particularly like Weymouth as a resort.

Yes the toilets are closed, permanently by the look of it, and the station isn't particularly welcoming, but I know many that feel worse. I quite like the way you can walk from the platform straight out onto the street by the side and be in the heart of the town immediately, and while the area around the station is probably Weymouth's poorest, it only takes a minute to have the vista of the glorious crescent beach and all its activity and a walk along its prom.

In terms of toilet provision, Weymouth must now be one of the few main towns in the south-west which still has a reasonable number of public toilets and all free to use, unlike most tourist places where all are charged.

Personally I would have thought toilet provision ought to come under the remit of the Disability Discrimination Act, as many of us have disabilities which require frequent access to toilets. And provision on trains is no real substitute, as when they are working (which IME they often aren't), the trains can be so overcrowded that it can be very difficult to get to one, and for those who are very frail, trying to in a moving train is not practical.

Many towns in the UK have pissoirs that rise from the ground in the evening or are dropped off from a lorry on a Friday / Saturday night. A very sensible idea. Sorry ladies. :'(

Of course in many European cities they are available 24/7. I don't know how much maintenance they need. Some may feel uncomfortable using them but I'm perfectly ok with them.

Many of the male gender who have, like me, now got to "a certain age," can certainly empathise with this man's character...


;)

The 1980s Weymouth Station modification/rebuild is certainly not without it's critics on this forum as has been the case for other examples of post WW2 station architecture . This got me thinking, do forum members have any examples of post WW2 Station architecture that they actually think works well, both aesthetically and functionally? Also, are there any notable "dishonourable mentions" that forum members would like to let off some steam about?

To avoid a total topic drift fiasco, I'll start a new thread in a couple of mo's somewhere under "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" heading.

A version for women has been designed as well, but AFAIK so far only used at festivals.

It is intended to remove sections of the line in order to determine the cost of complete removal.

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18237062.end-line-weymouths-harbourside-tracks/

It looks like the end of the line is very near


https://news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/2020/02/28/dorset-council-and-network-rail-win-funding-to-improve-road-safety-in-weymouth/

I know the Tramway has been mothballed, but has the statutory formal closure procedure for the line and Weymouth Quay Station been started yet? That procedure is required by the Railway Act 2005 I believe.

The line is “permanently out of use”, and no longer shown in the online sectional appendix, but I’ve been monitoring this for years and don’t recall any recent closure procedures as per the 2005 Act requirements...

Perhaps its effective closure predates the Act?

According to this article in rail.co.uk (http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/weymouth-quay-line/) it is closed:

It's not listed by the ORR has having been closed under the 2005 act, so I wonder if it wasn't open - in the sense of that act, at least. If there was no scheduled service, what was there to close? NR may have been able to close it without all that ... stuff required by the act.

From the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-51677959

From the Dorset Echo (https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18615526.road-closures-expected-weymouths-harbour-railway-line-removed-autumn/)

Work to start on removing tramway on October 5th

https://twitter.com/dorsetcounciluk/status/1307988426755579904?s=21

And the article to support that tweet spawns letters and comments on those letters. The prophets of doom are at work in the Dorset Echo (https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18745319.letter-why-necessary-remove-weymouth-tram-lines-completely-/)



I don't agree with the views quoted - I'm sharing them to flag that there are people who hold them ...

It is hard to see where such (negative) opinions can possibly originate. The Weymouth Tramway has not seen a (proper) train for over 20 years so its final demise is not relevant to current rail economics. Should the entire rail industry be placed under extreme financial pressure then such harsh cuts might occur - at high political cost.

Most unlikely either route into Weymouth is under any current (or near future) pressure. Both routes are considered sufficiently viable in normal times and Weymouth can still build further on its top listings as a leisure destination.

From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-54386389)

film footage on BBC spotlight 18:30pm local news on monday 5th october.

If you can record it,its available for TWENTY FOURS only 

I am downloading it from iPlayer. I don't know if it is shareable if I can edit the bit out. I saw it last night, sad but seemingly inevitable. You have a very short time left to watch:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000n91n/spotlight-evening-news-05102020 Just after 12 minutes.

Well, sometimes it is people with specific agendas and narratives leads them to say things that the vast majority of people would think as strange to justify those belief...good old confirmation bias, and sometimes it's just because "There's nowt as queer as folk".

From the Dorset Echo (https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18812515.road-reopens-weymouth-rail-tracks-removed/)

Photo in Dorset Echo website

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18812515.road-reopens-weymouth-rail-tracks-removed/

Not much of an epitaph, but there it is, gone.

A great example of the keyboard warriors that every newspaper of every town has contributing comments to their articles.  They all seem to live in the place that has the most corrupt officials, least competent workmen, and lots of other views that were clearly deemed too controversial and had to be deleted.

The photo shown in the Dorset Echo only shows the first phase of the work which has been recently completed. The remainder of the job towards Weymouth Quay will take several more weeks. The area along the quay may also prove more challenging (with some concreted sections) and "should" include the removal of various loops and sidings which have been part buried for some years and lie away from the main running line. 

I get the impression that a story about a broken electric toaster would elicit much the same comments from the same darkened box-rooms. Entertainment must be hard to come by in that neck of the woods, since the Olympics left.

They have had a bad recent history in Weymouth, after the navy base closed, the the ferry moved to poole, Winfrith nucler reserch was moved, as well as the demise of Eldridge Pope in nearby Dorchester, which was not only a brewery, but a major canning plant for all sorts of customers, been for a tour, was a large local employer, so I do have some sympathy for West Dorset. A great place to set up a white goods manufacturing plant, after we have to pay tarrifs for European imports next year.

As I was born in Weymouth, but raised in our quayside house, I'm wondering whether Dad has any slides of trains running in front of the house.  Never been through his slides, too many of them.
He always talked about the trains running past, with the added vibrations.
A major job for retirement perhaps..

I've heard no report or suggestion of the lifted rails being perhaps donated to a heritage railway somewhere.  It might sugar the pill a little for some of those most upset by what has happened.

On a personal note, I have walked along the line when I visited Weymouth a few years ago and like anywhere else with "road rails" I thought they added historic and architectural interest to the town..but that's just me.  It's unfortunate that they were perceived as a hazard. I did wonder if some simple filling of the gap could have been a cheaper remedy. It looks like the rotting sleeper fear was unfounded as from what I've seen they were made of concrete....oh well!

In my limited experience of removing tram old lines from under roads removing them intact may well have been more expensive than removing them in small chunks.

They are double rails with only a specific use within a roadway, presumably carried in special chairs.  Is it likely anywhere in the heritage world would need this particular type of rail rather than ?normal? rail?

Paul

The best way to reuse any rail recovered from a roadway is via a blast furnace. Blackpool had to get rid of the original lines, buried for 80 years, to build the extension to North Station. Manchester had similar issues in places.

From the Dorset Echo (https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19239836.weymouth-rail-station-revamp-plans-submitted/)


The comments on the article indicate a lack of faith in any notice being taken of consultation inputs, suggests it's an awful lot of money achieving little, and suggest that the station should be move out of town with buses and / or trams for the final stretch into and around the town - perhaps down to the harbour, anyone?  ;D

Good old local newspaper "below the line" comments!   

On my road (which, fortunately, is a private one that the council have no jurisdiction over in some ways such as surfacing) if the residents didn't park on the pavement then other vehicles such as delivery vehicles, fire engines, ambulances and refuse collection vehicles would not be able to access the road due to insufficient room. If this is a serious idea then care needs to be taken as to where it is imposed.

Dave

Guessing you live very near Weymouth station then? yes agree the local roads are very narow, so pavement parking might be justified. perhaps narower cars...

approx 18:40pm on Tuesday night

BBC Local news available for 24 hours only on i player catch up thingy

Been featured on BBC spolight news for the south west of England on Friday evening.

Available for 24 hours only on the play again facilty.

While compiling that report Paul Clifton posted this picture on Twitter.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/weysig.png)

Clearly glowing red despite the vegetation.  Be a worry if it was showing any other aspect.  It is the exit signal from the line to the harbour which, as we know, has been largely lifted!

Also available on BBC South Today.

A must for all Weymouth transport fans.

Joining the lifting of that disused track to current issues with passenger numbers on the railway?  I’d say it’s two completely unrelated stories.

If he wants to know why the signal is still working?  It’s a significant cost to fully alter the signalling system, so as in probably hundreds of other examples, you have a red signal leading from or to nowhere.  I suspect that as that line is still usable up until just beyond that point, there’s been no urgency to remove it, I believe it would still need a small fixed red pointing the other way on a set of buffers?

I heard somewhere the quay branch stub is being retained as a storage area, so the signal has to remain lit as it is lamp proved, if no lamp, then stub cannot be signalled into.

The sectional appendix still showed 21 ch (say 400m) available, which I think is about the length between the junction with the single track section of the main line, and the gates on the north side of Jubilee Cl near that signal.   Possibly a bit longer than needed for any reasonably expected use?

Paul

Title should probably be Weymouth station front; the seafront is unaffected, and was glorious when I visited a couple of weeks back.

This does look as though it should be a big improvement, and on a related note although much of the old tramway through the streets has been removed there is still a section through a car park which I suspect will survive for some time as it seems unlikely to bother anyone or need any maintenance.  I remember watching the boat trains creeping through the town in the early 70s.  A fascinating but distinctly cumbersome and archaic operation, and quite a spectator sport with the almost inevitable wait for a badly-parked car to be moved out of the way.  I could see why it stopped running before the boats did.

I was pleased to see that the local bus fleet still lives in a proper garage opposite the station rather than being stored exposed to the elements on a patch of wasteland as is more typical nowadays; particularly beneficial given the sea air.

From
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways-maintenance/highway-improvements/weymouth-branch-line-track-removal

My partner caught a train from Bath to Weymouth last week, which arrived an hour late, and said that when she tried to get off at Weymouth, the platform was so crowded by people waiting to board it, that it became dangerous to try to walk down the platform, and especially beyond where the end of the train was, as she felt she would get pushed off the platform by the crowds.

Although I haven't experienced it that overcrowded, there have always been large crowds on the platform when I have got off, and it does make it awkward to get out of the station easily. The platform certainly doesn't feel like it has enough capacity for the demands on popular services.

Is this an issue that is being addressed at all?

Is this platform 1 that you are referring to froome? If so, I agree that there isn't much capacity on this platform when there are passengers waiting for the incoming train on a busy summers day.

Probably, it is the one on the left if you stand in the station foyer.

Weymouth station was cut right back at a low point and these days is woefully inadequate on a nice summer's day. Even in the least destructive options in things like the Serpell Report, Weymouth was to only be the terminus of a line running from Southampton and that platform is just a token "we had better provide something for the moment" for the moment while the old GWR line to Yeovil dies.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/serpell_c1.jpg)

Further data - from OpenTrain Times, and for NLS via out map page

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/wey_now_1.jpg) (http://www.wellho.net/pix/wey_now_1.jpg)
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/wey_now_2.jpg) (http://www.wellho.net/pix/wey_now_2.jpg)

Click on the images to see them bigger

The platforms normally used by SWT are the 1957 excursion platforms. The rest of the station was demolished in preparation for electrification and a new, short platform built for the GWR services

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/weymouth/

Quite surprised at the amount of made ground to the left of the railway in Weymouth since 1900.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.136666666666667&lat=50.61924&lon=-2.44919&layers=168&b=4

Mark

We did the history of this not long ago (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=26383.msg322057#msg322057). The land sort of made itself.

Thanks for this.

Ooh, maps.nls.uk has 1:500 mapping of the station:

https://maps.nls.uk/view/231274875

Mark

According to this piece from Construction magazine (https://www.construction.co.uk/construction-news/296430/improvement-work-complete-at-weymouth-railway-station), the improvement work at Weymouth station has now been completed.

Does it include the re-opening of the toilets on the station?

Press reports seem to indicate the toilets will not be reopened. In theory a reduction in anti-social behaviour around the station might prompt a rethink!

All the lovely new stuff out the front, and Weymouth Station remains a disappointment.    I didn't comment on it earlier today; I had simply drawn a deep breath yesterday, sadly noticed in unimproved from this thread 4 years ago.   However, SWR asked me via a survey my opinion, so this is what I wrote.


Not really helped for newcomers to rail being faced with a train with a scrolling screen labelled "Barnstaple" which was (of course) going to Swindon.   

I have to agree with your comments. I was there on Saturday, went to find the loo, found there was none so went back to the train I had just got off and used the toilet on that. There was a sign suggesting I use toilets on the esplanade and having done that later in the day I can report that they are not exactly close to the station. But they are plentiful unisex cubicles in good condition.

And yes I found the front gate locked on my return too. I can't remember if there was a sign pointing to the side entrance. I just knew it was there.

The new CRP struggles to make the station look open and vibrant amongst all the rules
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/loowey1.jpg) (http://www.wellho.net/pix/loowey3.jpg)

I suspect there ARE loos but they are reserved for staff and customers aren't catered for. 
Mind you, the one esplanade has special loos for underground ladies, whoever they are.
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/loowey2.jpg) (http://www.wellho.net/pix/loowey4.jpg)

I didn't see the underground toilets. These are the ones I used (minus the green fence). It's good to see a local council improving or increasing toilet facilities when many others have chosen to close them.

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18618576.weymouth-esplanades-new-toilet-beach-office-will-open/

Weymouth station and immediate area have actually been upgraded in recent months. The front of the station has been remodelled with a new public space and history boards. The car parking has been reorganised and the platform canopies have been repainted and ?reglazed where required. A cafe also operates in the station which last year was a much newer innovation. The former quay branch nearby was made into a linear park (although not to the original glamorous plan!). This mostly involved Dorset Council funding although NR and SWR probably contributed. The final change has been erection of a new fence and gate on the car park side to prevent access out of hours. I always found it surprising that open access prevailed until now when trains were parked overnight. 

The toilets do seem to be permanently shut now which is disappointing but due to the anti-social behaviour experienced in the past. Although I have not visited the station very late in the evening (recently) I do believe it is staffed until close of play (ie after midnight)  but you need to seek out the staff in their little office to the left of the ticket office area when viewed from the platform. A sign indicates "customer help etc."

I have not visited the station for a few weeks so it is possible that some of the above is not accurate but I have been a regular visitor over many years.

 

 

You're right.  The old tramways track has been gentrified into a walkway with interpretation signs.  The frontage of the station has indeed been redone.  But that's not much help when the station building is closed from (?) mid afternoon on a sunny summer Saturday, with passenger for trains having to find their way around the side of the building to the back gate.

Yes, there *is* a shiney new high fence with gates around the back, and no doubt they are closed after the final train.   Staff member? - yes, you are correct that there's a train dispatcher (if not his official title, the role he has playing) in the office off to one side of the station building.  It was not obvious to me that he was available to help people and the office has no windows through which you can see someone inside. And when the main building is closed, the only way to see the departure board is to squint road to see it.

Yes, things have been done.  It could be so vastly improved by having a departure screen displaying next trains as passengers enter through the (!) back gate, and having the member of staff spend his time between dispatching obviously available and approachable to customers.

Not exactly top of my list of disruptions but


Looks like a personal accident waiting to happen for someone who needs an accessible loo. Up-thread advice to people wanting to use the loo at Weymouth Station has been "use the toilets on the train" ... Oops.

From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0jqjxe8d1yt?post=asset%3Af9607b97-2f2e-4cec-9fc1-607461858b87#post):


Shocking!  :o