Nailsea & Backwell Station

[whole diary]

[John R]

You beat me to it Chris. By the way, anyone know why those "things" have appeared at the ends of the platforms. I appreciate it's probably to stop people walking off the ends of the platforms, but the railway has managed perfectly well without them up to now, and I haven't seen them anywhere else.

[Chris from Nailsea]

John,

Thanks for your support - and, with your agreement (hopefully!), I've already moved this particular discussion to a new 'Nailsea & Backwell' topic, as I suspect we're opening up a whole new 'can of worms' here!

I agree that the appearance at Nailsea & Backwell of some quite robust galvanised barriers, on the inside edge at the end of each platform, and the rather bizarre laying of a corrugated rubber mat on the outside edge at the end of each platform, is, quite frankly, puzzling!  Has anyone, to your knowledge, ever absent-mindedly wandered off the end of either platform at Nailsea & Backwell???

Is this latest development in preparation for the installation of ticket barriers at Nailsea & Backwell, perhaps?  Will fare dodgers be discouraged from hurdling the rubber mats?  Or is the appearance of a galvanised metal gate intended to be a discouragement for a passenger trying to get his bicycle out of the guard's van, if his train stops beyond these latest obstructions??

Confused, of Nailsea. 

[Lee]

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) has been informed that a member of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff will be present at Filton Abbey Wood station occasionally over the next few weeks dealing with the ticket office and providing customer assistance.

Any chance of them also turning up 'occasionally' at Nailsea and Backwell, to provide similar services??? 

Has any more been heard on the recently advertised six month fixed term staff vacancy for a general purpose relief for Nailsea?

[John R]

Well no-one has turned up yet, Lee.

The only thing I can think of is that it is to stop someone trying to cross the track to avoid the stairs. Nailsea has a ramp on the up platform, but none on the down, so if you are unable to use stairs, you're in a bit of a pickle if you alight on the down having started your journey using the ramp (and assuming you would have a similar facility on the return journey).

Failing that, can anyone "in the know" help Chris and I?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, John!

I had another look at those barriers this morning, and I think this is indeed yet another sinister 'Health and Safety' development!

The very robust metal galvanised gates, secured with heavy duty padlocks, installed on the inside edge of the platforms are indeed most businesslike.  However, beside them, on the outer edge of the platforms, are big rubber mats, bolted to the platform, which can be walked over with ease.  In fact, rather amusingly, this morning at Nailsea, I watched a contractor do just that - walking up the track from the west, he stepped over the rubber mat onto platform 2, making no attempt whatever to unlock the padlocked gate that's just been installed!

The installation of these heavily padlocked gates seems to have been accompanied by the fitting of brand new signs to them, warning that the penalty for trespassing on the track is a fine of ^1,000.

Now, call me cynical, but anyone who really wants to trespass on the track, for whatever reason, will just walk past these heavily padlocked metal gates, by stepping over the rubber mats.  However, if they subsequently get squished by an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) passing through at 100mph, the H&S^▸ (Health and Safety) requirements will be satisfied because 'locked metal barriers were in place and warning signs were clearly visible'.

A couple of questions arise:

- What did the installation of all those gates at Nailsea & Backwell cost?

- How much has actually ever been recouped from persons 'trespassing on the track' at Nailsea & Backwell?

Chris 

[Mojo]

Those barriers have also appeared at Lawrence Hill & Stapleton Road.

[Lee]

John,

Thanks for your support - and, with your agreement (hopefully!), I've already moved this particular discussion to a new 'Nailsea & Backwell' topic, as I suspect we're opening up a whole new 'can of worms' here!

I agree that the appearance at Nailsea & Backwell of some quite robust galvanised barriers, on the inside edge at the end of each platform, and the rather bizarre laying of a corrugated rubber mat on the outside edge at the end of each platform, is, quite frankly, puzzling!  Has anyone, to your knowledge, ever absent-mindedly wandered off the end of either platform at Nailsea & Backwell???

Is this latest development in preparation for the installation of ticket barriers at Nailsea & Backwell, perhaps?  Will fare dodgers be discouraged from hurdling the rubber mats?  Or is the appearance of a galvanised metal gate intended to be a discouragement for a passenger trying to get his bicycle out of the guard's van, if his train stops beyond these latest obstructions??

Confused, of Nailsea. 

Answer from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) :

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have been installing gates and bump mats at platform ends to discourage trespass.

Those barriers have also appeared at Lawrence Hill & Stapleton Road.

Here is what they look like at Stapleton Road (photos taken 11/04/2008) :



At Stapleton Road, they also serve the purpose of placing the disused sections of the platforms firmly out of bounds (background link - http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=766.msg2957#msg2957) :



More photos can be found in the links below.

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad1.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad8.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad12.jpg

[devon_metro]

I'm sure an able bodied person could easily get over that! Just seems like a waste of money that could be spent on Tavistock or something.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, Lee! 

d_m, you're quite right: see my previous observation:

"In fact, rather amusingly, this morning at Nailsea, I watched a contractor do just that - walking up the track from the west, he stepped over the rubber mat onto platform 2, making no attempt whatever to unlock the padlocked gate that's just been installed!"

 

[Lee]

Those barriers have also appeared at Lawrence Hill & Stapleton Road.

Gates/mats have also been installed at Keynsham.

[eightf48544]

I'm sure an able bodied person could easily get over that! Just seems like a waste of money that could be spent on Tavistock or something.

Especially if you look there is a nice fence along side mat to hold onto as you cross the mat. I presumme the fence can' t come to the platform edge as it might be hit by a train.

As DM says a complete waste of money. Somebody didn't think this through. That's the trouble these days with tick box actions.

Access to end of platforms denied (tick).

Next box. 

[Lee]

From "Fletcher On Tour - March 2008" (link below) :
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1943.msg14391#msg14391

Wot, no Nailsea?

Not deliberate, Chris 

Maybe Lee asked the Town Council if there's a station for Nailsea.

Good point, John!

It seems the historic confusion over the identity of our local station continues. The station is actually located (just) within the parish of Backwell, but it was opened in 1841 as Nailsea, renamed Nailsea and Backwell in 1905, went back to Nailsea in 1974, and then became Nailsea and Backwell again some time later!

Fear not, for I have now visited  :



There still appears to be some confusion over the name though....



More Nailsea (and Backwell) photos, all taken on the 13/04/2008, contained in the links below.
http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea2.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea3.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea4.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea5.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea6.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea7.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea8.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea9.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea10.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea11.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea12.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea13.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea14.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea15.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea16.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea17.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea19.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea20.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea21.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea22.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea23.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea24.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea25.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea26.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea27.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea28.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea29.jpg

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea31.jpg

Ex-ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) Class 150 unit at Nailsea & Backwell.
http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea1.jpg

[Chris from Nailsea]

Lee, thanks for that - it's absolutely brilliant! 

Some observations from me, if I may:

Your first (sorry, your 'top'!) photo shows the problem with the 'barriers' - a child could walk over that rubber mat, completely ignoring the heavily padlocked galvanised metal gate. 

Your second photo indeed confirms that the confusion over the name of my local station is still not resolved ... !?

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea3.jpg shows that the rubber mat at the west end of platform 2 even extends within the yellow line for HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) - and the flimsy chicken wire fence beyond is no real barrier either - so why spend so much on installing a galvanised metal heavily padlocked gate there at all 

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea5.jpg shows an incredibly empty car park - it's normally crammed from 0800 on a weekday, with cars parked on verges and adjoining streets as well!  However, part of the problem is that it's free (http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea6.jpg ) unlike Yatton - so people from Yatton drive to Nailsea and park here! 

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea12.jpg shows the problem with the disabled access at Nailsea & Backwell - it's only available for platform 2!    (See also http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea14.jpg)

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea15.jpg is my famous (infamous?) ticket machine!  Was it actually working, when you visited Nailsea & Backwell, by any chance?   

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea28.jpg confirms, I think, that an average toddler could walk over that mat, without even having to hold onto a grown-up (or the railings!).

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea21.jpg Sadly, I don't think we had a centenary celebration for the footbridge!

http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea25.jpg shows why platform 1 at Nailsea is not DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliant!!!

And finally ... http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea29.jpg ... ah, yes, the lovely litter-strewn approach to platform 1!

Thanks again, Lee - you've made me feel rather homesick, with all those reminders of my beloved local station!

 

By the way, if anyone thinks I'm taking the mickey, I'm not!  I'm really a great fan of my local station (or what my local station could be, with a bit of commitment from FGW^▸ (First Great Western)), and I'd like to see it manned, and maintained, as it should be!  So there! 

[smokey]

It's a total waste to put a Fence across the end of the Platform, as Railway Group Standards prohibit ANYTHING being placed within 1.25 metres of the platform edge. (a safeguard in case train crew look out of the train).

However putting a fence up Just means anybody going off the end of the platform Risks being wiped out whilst going around the end of the fence, the matting is of course a tripping Hazard!!

H & S gone MAD!!!!!!!!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Exactly, smokey!  At the western end of platform 2, there isn't even a fence across the end of the platform: see http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408nailsea3.jpg , which shows someone with less than perfect eyesight could easily veer to the left of that post, stumble over the rubber mat and end up on the track!

At least there should be a big 'keep right' warning on that fence post - even if they can't put a fence across the platform end to the left of it???