Rail Replacement Bus Information at Stations

[whole diary]

[John R]

No trains at NLS this weekend, but driving past the station I noticed a couple waiting on the platform having just passed the rail replacement bus heading into Bristol. Sure enough they were blissfully unaware that there were no trains, and I can't say I blame them.

The departure screen just said "Welcome to Nailsea & Backwell station" rather than a more helpful message to say that trains were replaced by buses.  Near the foot of the stairs was one A4 size notice with very small type, which would be missed by most people unless they were looking for it.

They did say that there had just been an announcement that the 1451 was due (which was the bus I passed), but if it did say that it was a bus then it certainly wasn't clear enough for them to notice.

Feels to me as though GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) could do better at making it clear that a) there are no trains and b) where people have to wait. It can't be that hard, surely? An obvious way would be to put a barrier or tape on the stairs - and would have the benefit that people with pushchairs or luggage wouldn't struggle up the stairs only to find they had to go back down again.

[ChrisB]

That would very quickly get vandalised, or moved by someone not realising the platforms were shut

But yes, very valid point!

[Timmer]

Many a time I would pass Oldfield Park station on a weekend when the line was closed between Bath and Bristol and shout out to those waiting on the platform there are no trains. Sometimes FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would have posters up informing passengers no trains, sometimes not.

What makes picking up a rail replacement bus at Oldfield Park different to other stations was that you have to walk down to the Lower Bristol Road. If FGW hadn't put up a poster informing those turning up that you had to do this; you could end up waiting a long time at the entrance to the station.