Swindon - facilities, improvements, signalling, events and incidents, including GWR history - merged posts

[whole diary]

[hoover50]

Does anyone know what time I will need to arrive at Swindon station car park in order to be certain of getting a space?

I presume the arrival time during the school holiday period won't be as early as when the schools go back.

If this car park is full, what alternatives are there nearby?

[ellendune]

It has been a bit easier in the last few months.  Normally I expect to be able to get a space if in the West Car Park before 8:15 but it can be later, especially on Mondays and Fridays. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I hope that commendably prompt reply helps with your query, hoover50 - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum! 

[JayMac]

Still not finished. I was in Swindon today and the station forecourt is still a noisy dusty building site. Made two taxi journeys from/to the station and both taxi drivers were highly critical of the new layout. First one described it as "Swindon's most expensive patio", and the second said the new pedestrian crossing is "an accident waiting to happen".

So, John R and bobm, it would appear you are not alone in voicing your concerns.

With regard to the pedestrian crossing, it appears that someone is aware of the potential confusion with traffic all flowing in the same direction but with the taxi lane independently signalled (see photos below). Modern Pelican crossings direct the pedestrian to look at a red man/green man display that is positioned in line of sight of approaching traffic. Pedestrians can then be reassured that traffic has stopped because they are looking in that direction. However, a lot of people focus solely on the road traffic (myself included) and on seeing it slow and stop assume it is safe to cross. With two separate flows travelling in the same direction and independently signalled I can see it would be all to easy for a pedestrian to see the main flow stop and assume it is safe to cross. Thwack! Crunch! Bounce! as they are hit by a taxi who has a green light. 

Some decidedly unofficial signs have been placed at the crossing to warn people of the dangers from merging taxis. If those signs are needed then Swindon Borough Council/Network Rail need to seriously look at altering this pedestrian crossing. Yes, the crossing is safe if used correctly, but we all know that people will often look at the traffic flow rather than the red man/green man display before deciding whether to cross.

Thought process: Traffic has stopped. Red man will soon turn to green so I know I can cross. F**k me, why is that taxi not stopping? This is gonna hurt. Regain conciousness. What happened?

[bobm]

The "most expensive patio" is an oft used quote in the local paper - The Swindon Advertiser.

I too passed through Swindon today. I cannot believe how long it is taking. Wonder if I will see any progress when I return in 10 days time!

[ellendune]

News on the traffic system.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/9871276.Cabbies_say_station_revamp_is_a_hazard_for_pedestrians/

CABBIES have criticised the newly-completed taxi rank outside Swindon station and claimed the pedestrian crossing is ^an accident waiting to happen^.
 
As work on the ^1.8m revamp of the station forecourt nears completion after nearly 12 months, the taxi rank and bus stop has been finished and the hollow shell of the Millenium Clock has been brought out of storage.
 
But those plying their trade in the station have said they are less than happy with the new layout and say it does not work for pedestrians or transport access, with a crossing that gives people mixed signals.
 
One driver, Kevin Midgley, who has been a cabbie in the town for 13 years, said: ^The light system is an accident waiting to happen. One set is for the taxi lane and another set is for the buses and other traffic.
 
^If you stand there and watch you will see how many people walk out in front of buses or taxis. I would say there have been a couple of near-misses.
 
^I don^t know why they have bothered doing anything to it at all, it^s a bit of a waste of money. People getting off the train just want to get away from the station as soon as possible, not sit down and have a coffee in a plaza.^
 
The overhaul, which has involved months of disruption, has also seen spaces for taxis reduced from more than 40 to around 30.
 
But Danny Ringham, who started a new career as a taxi driver just three weeks ago, said the finished product was an improvement on the upheaval of the work, which has been ongoing since last September.
 
^It^s not as bad as it was, when we had queues down Gloucester Street,^ he said.
 
^The only problem is once you are on the rank you cannot get out until it^s your turn, which is a problem if there^s an emergency or you want to try somewhere else.^
 
Forward Swindon said the scheme was intended to give pedestrians priority through an uncluttered space which will feature seating, planting, lighting and the Millennium Clock, while taxi ranks, drop-off points and bus stops will be in well-defined locations.
 
Of the new Puffin crossing, a spokesman said: ^The Puffin crossing is the latest highways approved design and is being introduced throughout the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) as a safer type of crossing than the old style Pelican, using a lower level red/green man indicator and push button. However, due to the design of this crossing being a relatively new concept in the UK, we are going to include some additional, repeater indicators to warn pedestrians of oncoming traffic.^
 

[winnie99]

Not sure if I should have started a new post but my question is very related to this one: I've never had to park at Swindon to get the train but I do have to go there 1 day in September.  What are the chances of being able to find a parking space at the station arriving at about 4pm or should I just head straight to one of the town centre car parks and then walk?  If a town car park - which would you advise?  Having not been there before I'm a little concerned that I turn up, then can't find a space and then miss my booked train. thank you for your help.
Also do you know if I'm in the station car park from 4pm to 12.30am (8.5 hours) - is this considered 2 days parking as I've gone past midnight or just 1 day? 

[ellendune]

At 4pm you should have a reasonable chance of finding a space.  I think the ticket machines do work only up to midnight, but if you pay using APCOA^▸ (Car parking company used at GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) - controlled stations in the area) connect (suggest you register first on the internet www.apcoaconnect.com/) then it seems to give you 24 hours from when you pay so it would only be one day. 

[winnie99]

great, thank you

[JayMac]

And a warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum winnie99. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the Swindon Advertiser:

Station forecourt work set to miss deadline again


Construction workers on site at the ^1.8m Swindon rail station forecourt revamp

Work on the ^1.8m railway station forecourt project is to go on beyond the completion deadline again ^ almost a year after it began.

Earlier this month Forward Swindon, who commissioned the overhaul, said it hoped contractors would be finished at the site by the end of this month, but with workmen still hard at it, the company admitted that target was now unlikely.

The scheme, which was part of Swindon Council^s vision to improve the town centre, has been beset by problems from the beginning. Contractor Britannia Construction, which started the work in late September last year, initially hoped to finish by the end of June but blamed the wettest months on record in April and May for the delays.

Also, additional utilities work has also been required since the site is crossed by a number of major pipelines and drainage systems, none of which were evident at the start.

The final stage of the project has seen the installation of 500 tons of natural granite to create the 2,000sq metre forecourt area.

Ian Piper, CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) at Forward Swindon, admitted the previous deadlines had been ambitious. ^We hoped to see the station forecourt works completed by the end of the month and we are disappointed that they are still not finished,^ he said. ^But the key concern for Forward Swindon is that the result is a high quality environment for all those passing through the station forecourt every day, and the contractors are now at the final stage. This is a key regeneration project for Swindon and it must create an impressive and welcoming entranceway to the town, so Forward Swindon have not been prepared to compromise on quality.

^The anticipated completion dates were perhaps too ambitious considering the work involved, especially when taking into account the appalling weather this year, but the station has been open for business throughout the project and we^re sure the new forecourt will be of great benefit to Swindon in the long term.^

At least three million people pass through the station each year, including visitors and commuters from the London to Cardiff mainline, and the project was earmarked as a priority project for Forward Swindon to deliver this year. More than 50 per cent of the cost was met by central government with the remaining funding from Network Rail and the council.

Swindon Labour Group Leader Jim Grant said: ^Obviously it is very disappointing that the completion of the station forecourt refurbishment has been further delayed. With there now being broad cross-party agreement about where regeneration needs to take place it is the job of the council^s administration to ensure these projects are done within budget and on time. Clearly with this project the Conservative administration have failed to do this and I hope this will not follow a similar pattern with other regeneration projects.^

[bobm]

According to my weather station there has been 0.52 inches of rain in Swindon today - so that will delay it again!!

Swindon weather

(edited to add the evidence!)

[Chris from Nailsea]

See the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) for details - absolutely fascinating! 

[Phil]

A fabulous collection indeed, though it was really sad to read the final paragraph: "Until Sunday 30 September some of the items from the Harry Collection will be on display at STEAM"

Far better that this collection should be on permanent display to the public, not put straight back into storage again. I'm sure that's what Mr. Harry would have wanted when he bequeathed it to the museum. Never mind - it's good to have even a glimpse of it. Wonderful stuff.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From thisiswiltshire:

Swindon rail station revamp firm Britannia Construction in line for top award

The contractor behind Swindon^s delayed railway station forecourt upgrade has been shortlisted for firm of the year award by a business magazine.

Britannia Construction, which started the work late September last year, hoped to complete the project by the end of June ^ however, it remains unfinished due to delays blamed on the weather and the discovery of underground services.

But on Monday, Insider South West revealed that the firm was one of just three shortlisted for construction firm of the year in its annual Insider South West Property Awards 2012. The other nominees are Midas, and ACD Design and Construction.

The magazine, which will announce the winner in Bristol on October 18, says the awards are ^designed to reward those businesses and individuals performing at the top of their game^.

All shortlisted companies, projects and buildings were selected by judges from the property industry, as well as South West Business Insider editor^s, Neil Tague.

But taxi driver Max Walker, who has complained about the delays, said: ^I wouldn^t have thought they^re entitled to any reward given the delays. In my opinion it should have been finished six months ago, you can build a block of flats in about three months.^

Forward Swindon commissioned the ^1.8m project to provide a more impressive and user-friendly gateway to Swindon.

Ian Piper, chief executive of Forward Swindon, said: ^I think that^s great news for Britannia. Certainly we^re very pleased with the quality of what they^ve done at the forecourt.^