Keynsham station (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Evening Post:

I have received several complaints recently about the state of Keynsham Railway Station, both from residents and from people who work in or visit the area and use the station. I have also had a complaint from a local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament).

The whole station appears very unkempt and unwelcoming. The main shelter on the eastbound side is in a very poor state with a peeling roof, several broken glass panels and a partly burnt bench. The rubbish bags are often overflowing or non-existent, with rubbish often left uncollected, so more frequent rubbish collections and general station cleansing is needed. There is graffiti on both metal shelters and some of the lights under these shelters are still not working.

All of this results in a very unpleasant and insecure waiting environment for passengers, especially with the onset of dark nights. This is exacerbated by the fact that there is only an hourly service and there are no information display screens. Virtually all of the other stations within the West of England area have information display screens with real-time information ^ even Freshford which serves many fewer passengers than Keynsham has an information screen whereas Keynsham still only has a push-button, telephone-connected Help Point which is frequently out of order.

The inhospitable conditions at Keynsham Railway Station, which raise personal security fears especially in the evening when there are fewer people around, make it very difficult for us to promote rail as an attractive option.

Councillor Paul Crossley

Leader, Bath and North East Somerset Council

[dog box]

The information screens are being fitted on a rolling programme so i would expect Keynsham are on the list and havent been done yet, the station would also be covered by one of the mobile environmental cleaners not sure of the frequency of there visits but its usually daily  they only have one pair of hands and lots of stations to visit

[eightf48544]

Wonder if it was comments  like these that caused DaFTs^» (Department for Transport - critical sounding abbreviation I discourage - about) Secure Station Initiative to fade into obscurity.

An umanned station can never be secure, by definition.

I think Taplow got  Secure Station despite us arguing against it, no one believed it in anycase. We also had an argument with the assessor when he came round saying we couldn't possibly be a secure station. But it was a tick box exercise, lights, CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision), help point, phone box, no smoking signs yellow line etc.

Despite the fact at that time the Help Point was more often or not out of order and in any case there was no quick way of alterting the emergencty services through the help point (orange box) as there is with the new points (large white disc type).

Don't know specifically about Keynsham but having stopped in the dark at Exeter St James I'm not sure I'd like to wait for a train there either at least Taplow is very well lit.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Stations on the Severn Beach Line have just been re-accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme, as 'the improved facilities of Help Points and customer information screens certainly helped the passenger perception scores.' (Source: British Transport Police)

[Brucey]

Do the SVB line stations have CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) yet?

Having travelled a few times alone from Redland during darkness, I'd certainly not recommend doing it and wouldn't do it again, even with the "security" of a button I can press.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Do the SVB line stations have CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) yet?

No. 

[the void]

"Virtually all of the other stations within the West of England area have information display screens with real-time information ^ even Freshford which serves many fewer passengers than Keynsham has an information screen whereas Keynsham still only has a push-button, telephone-connected Help Point which is frequently out of order."

Across the whole FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network (210 stations) 106 stations have full Customer Information Screens. In addition, all stations apart from Bristol Temple Meads and Reading have been fitted with a help point. Of these 208 help points, 60 include a web based Customer Information Screen. The locations where the WebCIS screens were included (such as Freshford) were decided in consultation with the local councils, who provided additional funding (the Seven Beach Line screens were funded by the Sevenside Partnership). Surely Councillor Paul Crossley should know this?

I have never known the help points at Keynsham to be out of order. They have worked every time I have used them.

[phile]

We are still awaiting new screens at Bristol Temple Meads which show a longer time range so that passengers arriving to make a connection know to which platform they should go instead of having to wait around for the Screens to scroll down to their connection.  This is what happens with a short time span and an intense service.

[Mookiemoo]

You can already ore empt it with the app

And you can even get the pre assigned p,acts and head codes on traveline sites

Maybe these should be more advertised

[JayMac]

You can already ore empt it with the app

And you can even get the pre assigned p,acts and head codes on traveline sites

Eh? 

[inspector_blakey]

Attempted translation...

You can already pre-empt it with the app

And you can even get the pre assigned platforms and head codes on traveline sites

Maybe these should be more advertised

But I could be entirely wrong... 

[JayMac]

That makes a bit more sense. Thanks for the translation, blakey.

Also surprised that no-one has commented on the headline typo in the original article. A typo that CfN included, no doubt deliberately..... 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Mischievous - me?? 

[Mookiemoo]

Thanks for the translation!  butter fingers on an iphone and all that!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bath Chronicle:

Station's shelter a disgrace but my complaints are ignored

Keynsham station's east- bound shelter is a disgrace. People are drinking here probably taking drugs, they are urinating over the bench and floor, and the stench is very strong.

The overall condition of this shelter is disgraceful. Rubbish bins are overflowing with drink cans, bottles and papers strewn all over the floor; this is what you get for the highest train fares in Europe.

I have written to Great Western trains pointing out all the problems. Previously I phoned up but on two occasions I have been totally ignored. It is obvious to me First Great Western trains is not a caring company.

DAVID WOOD RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) Union Bristol