Bedminster Station from 17/05/09

[whole diary]

[Sion Bretton]

I see from the poster at Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) letting us know there is timetable changes on 17/05/09 that Bedminster Station be comes a request stop.
Is this a starting process for closing this station down?

[devon_metro]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)

[thetrout]

DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)

Maybe this smiley might be appropriate...!

[gaf71]

I see from the poster at Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context) letting us know there is timetable changes on 17/05/09 that Bedminster Station be comes a request stop.
Is this a starting process for closing this station down?

Not if it gets well used. Most stops on Barnstaple branch are request stops, and some have even gone the other way. i.e. Request stop to a booked stop  (yeoford). Also Exton and Lympstone Commando on the Exmouth branch are request stops, and there is no way these ststions would be closed. I think its normally due to low use, and saving time in running if no need to stop.

[inspector_blakey]

I don't completely understand the logic of timetabling request stops.

Surely this can only be timetabled in one of two ways, neither of which is entirely satisfactory...?

1. The service is timetabled on the assumption that it will not stop at BMT; when the stop is requested the train ends up running late, or
2. The service is timetabled on the assumption that it will stop at BMT, in which case when the stop is not requested it simply ends up "waiting time" at the next calling point.

 

[devon_metro]

They are often at locations where a stop will not make a significant difference due to low speed (applicable) and also at BMT you are likely to be held to enter Bristol Temple M.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Just as a matter of interest ... at what particular point on the platform at Bedminster should one flag down an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) 'on request'?  The recently installed boards for the stopping points for an HST at Bedminster, whether 1+7 or 1+8, are both beyond the permitted areas for passengers on the platforms, in both directions?

Merely curious! C. 

[FarWestJohn]

Perranwell, as previously mentioned , is also to become a request stop with only one in every two trains off peak in the timetable. The Truro to Perranwell time seems to be the same at 7 minutes but in the other direction it is 8 or 9 minutes. Presumably this is to allow for pathing purposes in Truro.

The timings from Falmouth Town to Truro seem to be 25/26 minutes with or without a Perranwell stop. In the reverse direction they are 20/21 minutes with or without a Perranwell stop.

So there does not appear to be any time allowed especially for the Perranwell stop. The difference between the up and down timings is for the new passing loop at Penryn.

As it is a request stop I do not see why the Perranwell stop is not for all trains if it makes no difference to the timings.

[Mojo]

The poster should have been removed yesterday - heard that it is incorrect.

[inspector_blakey]

Just as a matter of interest ... at what particular point on the platform at Bedminster should one flag down an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) 'on request'?  The recently installed boards for the stopping points for an HST at Bedminster, whether 1+7 or 1+8, are both beyond the permitted areas for passengers on the platforms, in both directions?

Merely curious! C. 

You don't need to stand next to the stop marker - a conspicuous hand signal from one of the "authorized" platform areas should do just fine - the driver will see you then pull up at the appropriate point 

[johoare]

Just as a matter of interest ... at what particular point on the platform at Bedminster should one flag down an HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) 'on request'?  The recently installed boards for the stopping points for an HST at Bedminster, whether 1+7 or 1+8, are both beyond the permitted areas for passengers on the platforms, in both directions?

Merely curious! C. 

You don't need to stand next to the stop marker - a conspicuous hand signal from one of the "authorized" platform areas should do just fine - the driver will see you then pull up at the appropriate point 

I was a bit curious too.. I've never heard of trains stopping on request.. So, assuming people on board the train are also able to request the train stops.. how do they do it? 

[devon_metro]

The Guard/Conductor/Train Manager walks around asking, or usually expects to be asked when checking tickets. If the Guard does not tell the driver anything then he will stop.

[johoare]

Thanks devon_metro...That makes more sense..  I'm not used to having guards etc on the train as we don't regularly have them on services from Maidenhead to Paddington so that hadn't occurred to me 

[inspector_blakey]

The system usually works reasonably well, assuming that the guard is actually willing/able to go through the train checking tickets. Having said that it's becoming increasingly unusual in my experience for trains not to call at request stops - on my regular route back to the parents' Kidwelly, Ferryside and most of the stations on the Pembroke Dock branch beyond Whitland are request stops and I can't remember the last time I travelled past any of them without stopping.

[vacman]

Perranwell is so lightly used that I don't think anyone can complain about only an hourly service-it's still a better service than it gets now, it will save around 1 minute by not stopping there as the turn around time at Truro from the new timetable is just 2 mins!