Buses, christmas markets and diversions

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Bath, the city end of Walcot Street (where the queue was stationary throughout). The photo shows one of the least effective traffic signs ever.

Partly the road closures for the Christmas market and partly the weight of traffic - and more than a smattering of muppet parking at pinch points too. Somehow, people expect that they'll be able to drive to a city centre car park without issues, and in this case at three in the afternoon. Road closures and diversions for the market mean that most of the bus drivers cannot keep to time, with some getting stressed about it. It would be good to hope that bus management issues suitably de-stressing messaging to them.

Oh and a couple of drivers of vehicles losing patience, going wrong side and flooring it past the queue at speed, which was a bit scary as it's not one way - in the middle distance of the photo there's that blindish bend bringing traffic down from Broad Street, so, collision potential.

Meanwhile, at the station, a queueing system in place with ticket checking and a lot of staffing and general help - and more passengers about than the photo suggests, with trains running to time and later, the distinctive sound across the city from a steam loco in the collar and returning east.

Mark

[TaplowGreen]

 GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s own advice in view of ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about)'s mischief and the Christmas Market + Bath Rugby playing at home today;

 "We therefore urge you to travel to Bath after the weekend, or by using alternative transport to these events"

(Industrial) actions have consequences.

[Timmer]

Another thing the good people of Bath can thank the Christmas market for is no train service on Thursday the 7th:

Trains will not stop at Bath Spa on Thursday 7 December. Customers travelling for the Bath Christmas Market will need to use alternative transport.

The hourly London to Bristol service will run non stop through Bath that day.

Source: www.gwr.com/strike

[Mark A]

On the other hand this is a useful reminder of the power of the railway to purposely shape passenger flows, a commonplace at the time that the railway needed to cut passenger volumes with respect to day trips to the seaside. From Bristol to the likes of Weymouth: later, slowed services with a change of train at Westbury was very effective.

Mark