Great Western Coffee Shop

Wasn't too sure about the forum to post this in - I decided on Lighter Side as it is picking on the NR website,

As well as missing prices and restrictions off rover ticket pages, among other problems, the new station maps on the National Rail website are a little incorrect.

At Bristol Temple Meads: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/BRI/plan.html
The whole ticket hall is the wrong way round!   The ticket barriers are in the correct place, but the ticket windows are at 90 degrees to the barriers.  The whole ticket hall on the diagram needs to be rotated 90 degree to the left.

Then: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/RDA/plan.html
"The Help Point is blue".  No it isn't.  It was white but isn't there anymore.

Then at Cosham: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/CSA/plan.html
"Platform 2 Stair Entrance" is shown as an entrance/exit from the station.  If you try and exit here, you'll end up on the tracks on the level crossing.  Is this a new way of accessing station platforms?
"There are no train announcements".  Yes there are.

And at Clifton Down: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/CFN/plan.html
"Residential Housing".  When did Sainsbury's become residential housing?
"Roo Bar".  When did Roo Bar become part of the station?

Fareham: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/FRM/plan.html
Shows Platform 2 as being a through platform.  It is in fact a bay platform.

I could probably pick on nearly every station in some way. ;D

BRI is a problem because it's a curved station and the schematic plans can't show that.  If you rotated the ticket hall then the short stay car park could run left to right, which is incorrect in relation to the south end of the platforms.  The long stay car park would end up in the wrong place too.

There's similar gibberish about Nailsea and Backwell (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/NLS/plan.html), though: suggesting there is a ticket machine on the footpath under platform 1 (there isn't) and that the TVMs at NLS cannot offer collection of pre-paid tickets (they can).

Rather more seriously, it suggests wheelchair users can access platform 1 'unaided': no they bluddy well can't - due to two flights of very steep steps and no ramp!  >:(

Note the wording is "wheelchair users can use the ENTRANCE unaided", not reach the platform!

Has anyone else noticed a problem with the Live Departures Boards?

Since last Wednesday I've been getting runtime error if I click on any train which isn't starting from the station I'm looking at.

For example: http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/fgw/summary.aspx?T=BRI (http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/fgw/summary.aspx?T=BRI), if I click on any train that starts from Temple Meads the link works, but any service terminating or passing through doesn't.

I do note the point, plymothian.  However, while the description of the ramp up to platform 2 at NLS is quite specific as to the rather steep gradient, 'which may cause problems to a wheelchair user' - there is no warning that there is no ramp access at all to platform 1.

So, wheelchair users can (probably, with a good run-up) get up to platform 2, and travel on eastbound trains - provided they don't intend returning to NLS on westbound trains stopping at platform 1.  ::)

Another cse of lack of "Attention to Detail"

The trouble is we've all collectively stopped thinking.

Yes ... noted that.  Hadn't realised it was rather longer than a temporary glitch ... wonder how long it will take to fix.

Spot the mistake in this plan of Yeovil Pen Mill (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/YVP/plan.html) from NRE's Stations Made Easy.....

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/ypm.jpg)

two lines going through under the bridge where there is only one in reality.

I think there is at least one error for every station: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6410.0

It's really rather worrying that National Rail Enquiries does not know the track layout of Yeovil Pen Mill Station.

It makes you wonder about validity of all all the other info they have.

Once again it's the boring old problem of "Attention to Detail"

As both of these topics were already on 'the lighter side' board, I've now merged them - purely for continuity.

C.  ;)

Those NR station plans are like something from another age - the graphics from those rubbishy magazine type-in computer games in the early 80s.

If you click on the details for Maidenhead station there is a picture which says it is "Station Approach, Maidenhead".. but it isn't.. I thought it might be Windsor and Eton central first time I saw it but I don't think it is.. Does anyone recognise it?

It's not Taunton - even I know that!  ;) :D ;D

Having never been to Taunton station (I don't think  :)) I'll take your word on that one Chris  ;D

(http://i39.tinypic.com/w87pra.jpg)

Can I think about this one ?

(Warminster)

Here's another one:

-------

Ticket office opening
    Monday-Saturday 05:30-21:30
    Sunday 06:45-21:30
Self-service machines
    Yes
Collect from counter
    Yes
Collect from machine
    Yes

    Situated by the ticket office.
Oyster PAYG
    No
Penalty fares

    Penalty Fares apply to journeys from Bristol Temple Meads station when travelling with:

        * First Great Western

    Penalty Fares do not apply if travelling with:

        * Arriva Trains Wales
        * CrossCountry

----

Arriva Trains Wales have stopped serving Bristol Temple Meads AFAIK... And no mention of South West Trains Waterloo/Salisbury Services...!! Also I do believe the ticket office is open slightly later than 21:30... I recall purchasing a FC upgrade for the SWT Salisbury service at 22:00 ish...!

This could cause confusion for passengers who travel on an ATW 150 from Temple Meads.  Is this a FGW or ATW service?  I would assume it is FGW, so you could be PFed, even though the train is branded as Arriva Trains Wales.

Could they have included this as Penalty Fares may not apply to FGW trains operated by a ATW crew?  I don't know, but this could be a reasonable assumption as FGW don't do PFs in South Wales.