HELP : Dangerous Signage at Reading Station

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Too small to be a concourse, methinks

[stebbo]

Clearly an EU^» (European Union - about) directive on this matter may be required.............. (or not).

[Brusselier]

Clearly an EU^» (European Union - about) directive on this matter may be required.............. (or not).

Not! It appears difficult enough to get consensus in one language, let alone 25 (or however many).

Alternatively, to settle the discussion, we could introduce qualified majority voting on this forum, 10 posts qualifies 1 vote...

[stuving]

For the record, I should correct what I said earlier:

• The map is still wrong, in that it suggests no stairs at the "A" ends and has no way of showing stairs but no escalator (or at least not one for use going down). So it does not meet the the requirement of telling which way (A or B) to go to avoid escalators.

What the diagram shows is correct: P8/9 has two escalators plus stairs for each half, P10-15 have two escalators for the A end and one escalator plus stairs for the B end. So it does meet the limited requirement I inferred was behind its design.

[thornebt]

However much discussion there is about the most appropriate name to describe things I suggest we all really know that we should use words like 'train', 'footbridge'. 'platform'.  It's just common sense isn't it?  I guess the people responsible for sign policy could ask a representative portion of the general public for the best words to use - a bit like they do in that naff Countdown programme to see how many people chose which answer!

[JayMac]

I guess the people responsible for sign policy could ask a representative portion of the general public for the best words to use - a bit like they do in that naff Countdown programme to see how many people chose which answer!

Surely you mean 'Pointless'? One of the best quiz shows currently on TV^▸ (Thames Valley). 

[onthecushions]

Reading's "Audio Signage" or announcements are also wonderful to behold or rather listen to.

This a.m. two announcements were made simultaneously and cacophonously, one about safety on escalators (I think), another about a train departure, or something. You have to be good at parallel processing for this sort of thing.

Later, on the platform, with a large number of other waiting XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) customers, I was pleased to hear a (single) announcement of a change of our platform...after the train had already come to a stand across the way.

If they manage the signalling as badly as the announcements..........

OTC

[stebbo]

Of course you could cut out the unnecessary announcements about taking care on escalators, minding the gap between train and platform edge, not trying to board train until it's come to a complete stop, taking care to lock your car, being aware of stray luggage/not leaving your luggage unattended, not drinking too much alcohol and the myriad other things us older people took for granted you should or should not do without having to be told every five minutes..............................

Brings to mind the celebrated case of the judge who actually threw out a claim by someone who claimed they got burnt because their coffee was too hot with the comment of what else did they expect of their coffee and he wondered if they would have complained if their coffee had been cold.