Weymouth - station, facilities, improvements, events and incidents - merged posts

[whole diary]

[froome]

My partner caught a train from Bath to Weymouth last week, which arrived an hour late, and said that when she tried to get off at Weymouth, the platform was so crowded by people waiting to board it, that it became dangerous to try to walk down the platform, and especially beyond where the end of the train was, as she felt she would get pushed off the platform by the crowds.

Although I haven't experienced it that overcrowded, there have always been large crowds on the platform when I have got off, and it does make it awkward to get out of the station easily. The platform certainly doesn't feel like it has enough capacity for the demands on popular services.

Is this an issue that is being addressed at all?

[Timmer]

My partner caught a train from Bath to Weymouth last week, which arrived an hour late, and said that when she tried to get off at Weymouth, the platform was so crowded by people waiting to board it, that it became dangerous to try to walk down the platform, and especially beyond where the end of the train was, as she felt she would get pushed off the platform by the crowds.

Although I haven't experienced it that overcrowded, there have always been large crowds on the platform when I have got off, and it does make it awkward to get out of the station easily. The platform certainly doesn't feel like it has enough capacity for the demands on popular services.

Is this an issue that is being addressed at all?

Is this platform 1 that you are referring to froome? If so, I agree that there isn't much capacity on this platform when there are passengers waiting for the incoming train on a busy summers day.

[froome]

My partner caught a train from Bath to Weymouth last week, which arrived an hour late, and said that when she tried to get off at Weymouth, the platform was so crowded by people waiting to board it, that it became dangerous to try to walk down the platform, and especially beyond where the end of the train was, as she felt she would get pushed off the platform by the crowds.

Although I haven't experienced it that overcrowded, there have always been large crowds on the platform when I have got off, and it does make it awkward to get out of the station easily. The platform certainly doesn't feel like it has enough capacity for the demands on popular services.

Is this an issue that is being addressed at all?

Is this platform 1 that you are referring to froome? If so, I agree that there isn't much capacity on this platform when there are passengers waiting for the incoming train on a busy summers day.

Probably, it is the one on the left if you stand in the station foyer.

[grahame]

Weymouth station was cut right back at a low point and these days is woefully inadequate on a nice summer's day. Even in the least destructive options in things like the Serpell Report, Weymouth was to only be the terminus of a line running from Southampton and that platform is just a token "we had better provide something for the moment" for the moment while the old GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) line to Yeovil dies.

[grahame]

Further data - from OpenTrain Times, and for NLS via out map page




Click on the images to see them bigger

[bradshaw]

The platforms normally used by SWT^▸ (South West Trains) are the 1957 excursion platforms. The rest of the station was demolished in preparation for electrification and a new, short platform built for the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/weymouth/

[Mark A]

Quite surprised at the amount of made ground to the left of the railway in Weymouth since 1900.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.136666666666667&lat=50.61924&lon=-2.44919&layers=168&b=4

Mark

[stuving]

Quite surprised at the amount of made ground to the left of the railway in Weymouth since 1900.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=14.136666666666667&lat=50.61924&lon=-2.44919&layers=168&b=4

Mark

We did the history of this not long ago (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=26383.msg322057#msg322057). The land sort of made itself.

[Mark A]

Thanks for this.

Ooh, maps.nls.uk has 1:500 mapping of the station:

https://maps.nls.uk/view/231274875

Mark

[stuving]

According to this piece from Construction magazine, the improvement work at Weymouth station has now been completed.

Improvement Work Complete At Weymouth Railway Station

Improvement works at Weymouth railway station are now complete.

Councillors and officers from Dorset Council, Richard Drax MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), Chris Loder MP and the managing directors for South Western Railway and Network Rail (Wessex) officially opened the station.

Other representatives from organisations which helped shape and fund the improvements were also in attendance.

The multi-agency partnership-led improvement scheme which completed last summer includes a refreshed car parking layout with clearer drop-off, collection and taxi points, improved bus links, a new bus shelter and bus information, more secure bicycle storage plus new pedestrian areas and walking routes.

The railway station forecourt now also has a landscaped planting scheme, new lighting, and CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) to deter antisocial behaviour. In a nod to Weymouth’s railway history at the adjacent Pocket Park, new information panels about how the use of the railways in the town have changed over the years. Further improvements at the station include a living wall, a completely refurbished canopy on platforms 2 and 3 and new station café..

[infoman]

Does it include the re-opening of the toilets on the station?

[WSW Frome]

Press reports seem to indicate the toilets will not be reopened. In theory a reduction in anti-social behaviour around the station might prompt a rethink!

[grahame]

All the lovely new stuff out the front, and Weymouth Station remains a disappointment.    I didn't comment on it earlier today; I had simply drawn a deep breath yesterday, sadly noticed in unimproved from this thread 4 years ago.   However, SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) asked me via a survey my opinion, so this is what I wrote.

Toilets need to be open.  For a big station, a member of staff would be useful. Once station closed (later in the day / my GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) return via Yeovil) no sign saying "closed" on front, no screen showing departure, had to look at each platform to find the train from along the platform itself.   And this on a busy summer day at a seaside terminus with lots of people using your services

Not really helped for newcomers to rail being faced with a train with a scrolling screen labelled "Barnstaple" which was (of course) going to Swindon.   

[Surrey 455]

All the lovely new stuff out the front, and Weymouth Station remains a disappointment.    I didn't comment on it earlier today; I had simply drawn a deep breath yesterday, sadly noticed in unimproved from this thread 4 years ago.   However, SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) asked me via a survey my opinion, so this is what I wrote.

Toilets need to be open.  For a big station, a member of staff would be useful. Once station closed (later in the day / my GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) return via Yeovil) no sign saying "closed" on front, no screen showing departure, had to look at each platform to find the train from along the platform itself.   And this on a busy summer day at a seaside terminus with lots of people using your services

Not really helped for newcomers to rail being faced with a train with a scrolling screen labelled "Barnstaple" which was (of course) going to Swindon.   

I have to agree with your comments. I was there on Saturday, went to find the loo, found there was none so went back to the train I had just got off and used the toilet on that. There was a sign suggesting I use toilets on the esplanade and having done that later in the day I can report that they are not exactly close to the station. But they are plentiful unisex cubicles in good condition.

And yes I found the front gate locked on my return too. I can't remember if there was a sign pointing to the side entrance. I just knew it was there.

[grahame]

The new CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership) struggles to make the station look open and vibrant amongst all the rules


I suspect there ARE loos but they are reserved for staff and customers aren't catered for. 
Mind you, the one esplanade has special loos for underground ladies, whoever they are.