Protection for on-track workers is good, but is this a strange priority?

[whole diary]

[Tim]

After being away for a few weeks a caught a train yesterday from Bath station.

I noted that in the gap between the tracks (which is extra wide as there used to be an extra line there), there had been built a little gravel path parallel to the down line. 

I assume that this is to give ontrack staff or train crews a safe walking route either during engineering work or to allow crew to change ends.  Now that is not something I would normally object to, but given that before the path was installed there was a already a safe walking route (either use the platform or the clear and level ballast), given that the platform lights mean that this area can be well lit, and given that there are many other parts of the line where there is anything but a safe walking route (there are plenty of places where the lineside is obstructed by vegetation, rubbish, cable, troughing etc that represent a real hazard especially in the dark) it struct me as a strange priority to be spending a safety budget on.

have I missed something?   

[super tm]

When a full length HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) is in the platform at Bath Spa the drivers cab at the London end of the train can often be over the river bridge.  So a driver changing end via the platform would have a chance of falling in the river !

I agree however that the hand rails look  unnecessary.

[Tim]

Thanks for the explanation.  It makes sense I suppose in terms of practciality to provide a better walking route for drivers than maintenance staff.  Is the installation at Bath an indication that there are going to be lots of HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) reversals planned at that station? 

[fatcontroller]

At the moment it is not possible to reverse (change ends) in the down (Bristol-bound) direction.
Over the next few months new signalling is being installed which will allow down direction trains to change ends in the down platform and return back towards Bathampton Jn.

As was previously mentioned with reference to the powercar being on the bridge, that is why the walking route is requried.

[Tim]

Thanks for the reply.  I understand now.

They seem to be installing similar next to the up line now.