Bath Spa station - improvements, incidents (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[John R]

This is also the subject of a discussion at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4215.msg34568#msg34568 

Can I point out that this was posted 14mins before John put his link to it

Yes, it was my fault, I didn't see that Ollie had already posted.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

An investigation is under way in Bath after the main railway station's booking office was raided by thieves.

Police were called to Bath Spa station shortly after 0100 BST on Tuesday when the alarm went off.

When railway staff arrived just before 0500 BST they discovered the burglary had taken place.

Det Sgt Andy Porter, from Bristol Transport Police, said: "Scenes of crime officers are carrying out a detailed search of the station."

Passengers who do not already have tickets are being asked to pass through the station, and buy tickets after getting on board a train.

For the full news item, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8068429.stm

[Timmer]

Dorchester Street in Bath will be closed from Thursday 28th of May through to Sunday 7th of June due to emergency road works.

Reason I'm posting this on this forum is that if you have a rail journey starting at Bath Spa and are travelling to the station by bus, there are diversions taking place on many bus routes into Bath. Suggest allowing more time to get to the station, especially if you are travelling using an advance ticket!

Details of affected bus routes can be found here:
http://bathcsc.info/2009/05/27/emergency-road-closure/

Having said all that, since there has been major road works on Dorchester Street as part of the opening of the new bus station, bus services in Bath have been badly affected so I wonder if these diversions might make services more reliable!

More on this from the Bath Chronicle website:
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/travelandtransport/Dorchester-Street-close-week/article-1028297-detail/article.html

[JayMac]

From The Bath Chronicle:

Rail watchdogs have now given their blessing to a controversial lift system planned for Bath Spa railway station. The Office of Rail Regulation has been keeping a close eye on plans to remove the access ramp to the London-bound platform 2 at the station and replace it with a lift for disabled people and cyclists.

The latest plans were given planning permission earlier this year but the Government safety body had mounted its own investigation into a string of complaints from the public. Now the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has issued the findings of its inquiry and says it has no problem with the planned lift as long as it is thoroughly tested before the ramp is demolished.

Among the concerns expressed were that the lift was too small, that the loss of the ramp would increase congestion on the stairs and even that its removal might lead to structural collapse of part of the station.

Train operator First Great Western had changed the location of the lift earlier this year amid concern from its own independent safety consultant, who has now issued a series of reports.

The consultant - known in official terms as the independent competent person (ICP) - has assessed the plans based on a 50 per cent increase in passenger numbers at the busy station.

A letter from the ORR to people who have expressed concern says: ^The ICP considers that the lift has sufficient capacity to cater for those passengers who will require alternative step-free access after closure of the ramp.^ It says the consultant believes safety risks on the stairs could be ^reduced to acceptable levels^ while Network Rail is said to have no grounds to believe the removal of the ramp would compromise structural safety. The letter says: ^Having read the ICP report, we consider that the ORR Safety Directorate has no evidence for regulatory intervention in the overall scheme of development as outlined.^ The body says there was already agreement that the ramp would not be removed until the new lift and stairs were operating satisfactorily.

The ORR says: ^We regard it as critical that the new stairs and lift are completed and open, before the closure and demolition of the ramp. The opportunity should be taken to establish the workability in practice of the station with the new lift and stairs and no access to the ramp, prior to ramp demolition commencing.^

The letter, from rail inspector Simon Smith, says the ORR will ^maintain its scrutiny of the safety arrangements of the project as it progresses.^

The project is a joint one, involving First Great Western, SouthGate developer Multi and Network Rail, as well as Bath and North East Somerset Council.

A spokeswoman for First Great Western said no start date had yet been finalised.

[inspector_blakey]

Hmm. It will be interesting to see if the fabric of civilization in Bath really does disintegrate as a result of the removal of the ramp, as so many seem to have suggested

I still really don't understand the ridiculous fuss over this one - I have no doubt that wheelchair users will be very grateful that they no longer have to take a long detour up a steep slope to reach either platform. And the lifts will also be a boon for anyone who's just a bit elderly and intimidated by the stairs, as well as those who are encumbered with pushchairs, luggage, etc etc.

[thetrout]

Yesterday I decided i'd go to Bath for a pub dinner in The Porter...! I boarded a train to Bath that arrived a few minutes late...!

I returned to Frome on what was the 20:07 - but it arrived/departed from Platform 1 (Down Line) It was also by this point the best part of 40 minutes by this point! It got even later as we had to wait for a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service to continue down towards Castle Cary direction.

Today I caught the 18:36 Cardiff Central service from Trowbridge, it arrived 20 minutes late. We then came to a signal just outside Bathampton Junction, where we waited, and waited, and waited...! We eventually arrived into Bath Spa on Platform 2 (Up Platform) 35 minutes late. From looking at the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) it appears they we only using Platform 2 for all services!! Which as you can imagine, has caused several delays!

Whats going on...??

[JayMac]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Live Updates:

11 November 2010

Train services at Bath Spa are being disrupted due to signalling problems. Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays of up to 45 minutes can be expected.

[John R]

Was on the train behind you into Bath Spa. TM^‡(resolve) reported a broken rail hence all services were using the up line.

[tramway]

Looks like 2 seperate problems, Thu eve, (AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know) we were the first wrong platform service at about 6.30), departed for Trowbridge none the wiser. Guard was informed about points/track circuit issues at Bathampton just as we went through the junction. 

[TerminalJunkie]

http://straylight.co.uk/?p=120

[Phil]

Ha. I have to admit, as a b3ta secret moderator I had actually seen that one before. But it's still marvellous!

[JayMac]

Fantastic!

[SDS]

Ha. I have to admit, as a b3ta secret moderator I had actually seen that one before. But it's still marvellous!

b b b b b Birmingham!!!!

[Lee]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Bath Spa railway station revamp is under way

Work to restore the 170-year-old Bath Spa railway station building has got under way.

First Great Western said the revamp would see extra entrances added and access to the platforms improved.

The firm said there would also be a "restoration of a number of historic architectural features".

But the Federation of Bath Residents Associations' said they were unhappy with a lack of communication over the station changes.

Plans for the revamp were first unveiled 10 years ago and Robin Kerr said that residents had not had enough of a chance to have their say.

"For more than 10 years the people have Bath have not been consulted and have had no opportunity to comment on the changes that have happened."
 
One of the biggest changes since the plans were initially given the green light is a goods lift being converted to passenger use.

Dan Panes, from First Great Western, said when the firm took over the running of the station a decade ago they realised the old smaller lift was "a big issue".

He added that all of the statutory planning consultations had been completed but they "could have been better" in talking to commuters.

Other improvements planned at the station include new toilets and outside there will be improved drop-off points and additional parking spaces.

The work is due to be completed in summer 2011.

From the Bath Chronicle:

New-look station will be completed by next summer

Work to create new entrances and a lift at Bath Spa railway station will be finished by next summer.

The facelift, which will also develop a new waiting room and booking hall interior, is largely being funded by SouthGate developer Multi and other firms involved in the nearby shopping centre.

But operator First Great Western is putting its own money into a new waiting room and toilet facilities.

The most contentious part of the plans has been the size of a new lift which would replace the ramp to the London-bound platform, which FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has now enlarged.

There will be:

● new entrances to the west and south of the station;

● new step-free access to both platforms;

● extra parking spaces for rail users in the shopping centre's own car park;

● a new pedestrian-only link between the rear and front of the station;

● better drop-off and pick-up points;

● new toilets;

● the restoration of a number of historic architectural features.

FGW said it had made the lift bigger to better accommodate cyclists and disabled customers.

Spokesman Dan Panes said: "Bath Spa station was built more than 160 years ago as a gateway to the city, and it has changed very little since then.

"This work is designed to bring the station into the 21st century, improving access and facilities while steadfastly maintaining its heritage and its reputation as one of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s most stunning stations."

He said the fact that there was only a single entrance and exit to the station meant it got very busy at peak times.

"We'll open up two additional entrances ^ one at the back of the station and one that takes the place of the former Upper Crust shop."

[Tim]

Will the station retain a current single ticket barrier line one wonders?  two new entrances will do little to enhance the usability of the station if so.