National Rail Departures board for Reading...

[whole diary]

[johoare]

Whilst checking train times on the National rail web site just now, on the Reading departures board I noticed that quite a lot of trains from Reading have a destination of Ealing broadway and not London Paddington. So then I looked at the London Paddington arrivals board and these trains are definitely going through to there.

I just wondered if anyone knows why this is. I assume either the departures information is a bit wrong, or maybe they don't want the people travelling all the way to London getting on the slower, stopping trains so only advertise them as Ealing Broadway ones?

[swlines]

That's basically it - Ealing Broadway trains are the slower trains and of course there are faster services to Paddington... they just advise people to get the faster services.

[John R]

There are a surprising number of departures from Kings Cross that go to Foxton - of course they end up at Cambridge.

And at Paddington the 1630 to Taunton is shown as terminating at Bridgwater to prevent Taunton passengers making a mistake and ending up in Taunton an hour later than they expected.

 

[Steve44]

Same thing is shown at Didcot parkway on the stoppers to paddington... it's normally followed by a message saying "this train will continue to london paddington"

[Btline]

Why don't they just say/put on the screens:

"London Paddington (stopping) calling at ........."

and

Taunton (via Bristol) calling at...... Passengers for Taunton should take the direct XX:XX service.

Then people can make a decision using their own brain, whilst not confusing people . This happens in Carlisle (with the slower trains to Glasgow via Dumfries).

And at Oxford they have a "Next express to London" screen.

[swlines]

The systems are mostly automated as to what they display on the screens. To do what you are saying (adding passengers for Taunton blob blob blah flobbadob) would require manually adding this in most cases - and in times of severe disruption that would just cause a headache.

[Phil]

Quite frankly, after decades of watching the general public on railway platforms I have to conclude that "people [making] a decision using their own brain" is all too often quite a lot too much to even hope for.

The vast majority in my experience completely ignore any and all available notices, displays, overheads and announcements and instead make a beeline for the nearest train employee and demand to be told what it is they want to know.

Usually rudely.

I despair, I really really do.

[Toiletdriver]

Quite frankly, after decades of watching the general public on railway platforms I have to conclude that "people [making] a decision using their own brain" is all too often quite a lot too much to even hope for.

The vast majority in my experience completely ignore any and all available notices, displays, overheads and announcements and instead make a beeline for the nearest train employee and demand to be told what it is they want to know.

Usually rudely.

I despair, I really really do.

The magic words
Excuse me
Please
THANK YOU

Thankfully I can say what I really think as not public know how to swear outside of English




And not many people can speak English

[Chris from Nailsea]

And, very much in this spirit of politeness: "Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, Toiletdriver!"

Chris 

[Toiletdriver]

And, very much in this spirit of politeness: "Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, Toiletdriver!"

Chris 

Thank you.

I'm a driver forced into FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via TUPE^▸ (The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.), and I driver rubbish trains listening to moaning commuters.

[johoare]

I'm a driver forced into FGW^▸ (First Great Western) via TUPE^▸ (The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.), and I driver rubbish trains listening to moaning commuters.

Oh dear.. That isn't good. I promise I never moan.... Not even if there are lots of delays.. (which doesn't happen much anymore).. I try and look on the bright side.. More time to read my book, less time at work.. etc etc...

[Steve44]

Was at Paddington today and noticed that slow trains to Oxford show either "Radley" or "Didcot Parkway" on the boards, depending on whether the last stop before Oxford is one of those.  No indication that it carried onto Oxford, however.  It's also worth noting that all the boards bar the newer screens were down today.

[IndustryInsider]

Was at Paddington today and noticed that slow trains to Oxford show either "Radley" or "Didcot Parkway" on the boards, depending on whether the last stop before Oxford is one of those.  No indication that it carried onto Oxford, however.  It's also worth noting that all the boards bar the newer screens were down today.

A surprising number of people are coaxed onto stoppers as a result of advertising them as Oxford. I'm glad Paddington have started to advertise them as Radley etc., as they were up until a couple of years ago. It doesn't help when the next fast train to Oxford is a Great Malvern or something as if you are looking at the summary screens and only see Oxford mentioned with the stopping service then if you are an un-seasoned traveller then you are always going to head for the wrong train.

There are a significant number of people who mix up the arrivals board with the departures board, too. Suggestions by myself to list the arrivals in a different colour, red for example, fell on deaf ears unfortunately.

[Super Guard]

Quite frankly, after decades of watching the general public on railway platforms I have to conclude that "people [making] a decision using their own brain" is all too often quite a lot too much to even hope for.

The vast majority in my experience completely ignore any and all available notices, displays, overheads and announcements and instead make a beeline for the nearest train employee and demand to be told what it is they want to know.

Usually rudely.

I despair, I really really do.

Someone who feels my pain... 

[Super Guard]

There are a significant number of people who mix up the arrivals board with the departures board, too. Suggestions by myself to list the arrivals in a different colour, red for example, fell on deaf ears unfortunately.

Trust me I have stood in front of the arrival/departure screens and when customers ask for a depature when looking at the arrivals, i'll point it out they're looking at the arrivals.  Of course I then get a:  "Are you sure, surely you must be lying to me?" expression while they look again at the Arrivals.