New Customer Information Systems

[whole diary]

[johoare]

marvellous.. maybe we could have our clocks back meanwhile...

With respect, out of interest are users of Maidenhead forced to relinquish their mobile phones/watches/time pieces on arrival at the station? 

Well no.. But are we all expected to set our respective timepieces to Paddington time regularly so that we know that the time we think it is is also the time the traindriver thinks it is? I happen to do that (I'm sad like that  ) but a lot of people don't..Or do we leave Maidenhead when the last passengers watch/phone etc gets to the time the train is due to leave 

The other day I was buying a coffee at 9am as the 9.03 pulled in.. The man behind me was about to leave the queue coffeeless until I told him he had 3 minutes.. He was a bit dubious that the train wouldn't just leave early due to there being no clocks.. I convinvced him he'd have time to get his coffee and he did (I did breath a sigh of relief though that we didn't get left behind  )

[tramway]

Freshford up and running this morning, not sure how long for as I don't normally bother looking out of the window at this time of year. And that's it for me and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) till 2011.

[IndustryInsider]

The first of the inner LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) stations, by which I mean not the Cotswold Line, to get the treatment is..... wait for it.... Pangbourne!  Another slightly strange choice, but two sparkly LED next train indicators are installed, but not yet commissioned on the two platforms.

[James Vertigan]

Last day this year for me using AML after a few days of getting lifts due to icy conditions, it would seem the new info points are in, but still wrapped in plastic. Sadly it seems we're just getting the bog standard two button ones with no built in screen. No sign of any new screen by the ticket office or new platform matrix displays yet. However, as I stared into the morning gloom up at where the clock should be, it did look like that had disappeared and all that is left is the blue arm. Hadn't noticed until today!

[IndustryInsider]

Sadly it seems we're just getting the bog standard two button ones with no built in screen. No sign of any new screen by the ticket office or new platform matrix displays yet.

That would be right, you either get the help point with integral screen if it's a small station, or the help point with no screen and new shiny blue LED displays and summary monitors if a larger station - Acton Main Line does qualify as a larger station, just!  Both systems are being installed separately, and although the help points are well ahead of the full systems, there's still several stations still to be fitted out.

[coachflyer]

Have been on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) today and the new platform displays at Hungerford were working and displaying the correct information!

[Louis94]

Just out of interest does anyone know whether FGW^▸ (First Great Western) took the opportunity while Reading was closed to replace all the screens/departure boards there? As I thought it would of been a perfect chance to do this without causing problems to passengers, but then again this is FGW we are talking about 

Also does anyone have any other stations to add to the (slowly) growing list of stations that have had the new hardware installed for the full system, these stations currently being:

Charlbury
Hungerford
Kingham
Moreton-in-Marsh
Pangbourne
Teignmouth
Weston-super-Mare

[johoare]

Still the old system (no clock) at Maidenhead.. But at least the old system has been mended and is currently working after weeks of being rather flaky (which really does help a lot)..

[IndustryInsider]

Nowhere to add yet, but I'll keep my eye out.  After weeks of being too fast the clocks at Slough and Oxford are finally showing the right time.  Radley and Culham screens have been out of use for weeks now though.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

The first of the inner LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) stations, by which I mean not the Cotswold Line, to get the treatment is..... wait for it.... Pangbourne!  Another slightly strange choice, but two sparkly LED next train indicators are installed, but not yet commissioned on the two platforms.

--and it was all being connected up to-day and working when I caught the 1517 to Rdg! Obviously Pangbourne got priority for Gordon the Blue Engine (and maybe MD FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as well!).  One good new feature (bearing in mind RL's are 90 mph - or is it 110?) is the warning message - both on the screens and on the PA^▸ (Public Address) - to "Stand clear - the approaching train is not stopping". 

But the euphoria was blunted when I returned at 1632 to find the down platform, stairs and subway in total darkness with no lights working.  I hope Telnet didn't trip a breaker accidentally.

 

[inspector_blakey]

Just out of interest does anyone know whether FGW^▸ (First Great Western) took the opportunity while Reading was closed to replace all the screens/departure boards there?

No, they didn't. Or at least, the "old" system was still in use on 5 Jan. But I can't imagine that Reading is top priority for the new kit since it's already got a comprehensive system that works very well.

I suspect that FGW probably decided they had enough to think about during the Reading blockade without tinkering with an information system that honestly is not in urgent need of replacement, plus the fact that for much (or all...?) of the blockade the station wasn't fully closed anyway but had a reduced service running.

[eightf48544]

No lights does that mean trains are not stopping at Pangbourne?

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

We stopped, and everyone was feeling their way down the stairs and through the subway, which was pitch dark.  It was only a 3 car so I suppose the driver could see ok to close the doors.  Would the driver have phoned Gulag Didcot to report it and get it fixed?

[Louis94]

Just out of interest does anyone know whether FGW^▸ (First Great Western) took the opportunity while Reading was closed to replace all the screens/departure boards there?

No, they didn't. Or at least, the "old" system was still in use on 5 Jan. But I can't imagine that Reading is top priority for the new kit since it's already got a comprehensive system that works very well.

I suspect that FGW probably decided they had enough to think about during the Reading blockade without tinkering with an information system that honestly is not in urgent need of replacement, plus the fact that for much (or all...?) of the blockade the station wasn't fully closed anyway but had a reduced service running.

Well seeing as the information system was being installed by a contractor, I would not of through it would of been that hard to arrange. The only day it was totally closed was the 25th and 26th, with buses operating on 27th - 30th, can't imagine the system being needed for the buses, nor the platforms being open.

One good new feature (bearing in mind RL's are 90 mph - or is it 110?) is the warning message - both on the screens and on the PA^▸ (Public Address) - to "Stand clear - the approaching train is not stopping". 

Was it still the old thames trains lady, or have they put someone new in?

[IndustryInsider]

Obviously Pangbourne got priority for Gordon the Blue Engine (and maybe MD FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as well!).  One good new feature (bearing in mind RL's are 90 mph - or is it 110?) is the warning message

Relief's are 100mph.  Good point about Pangbourne's most important resident - perhaps that is indeed why it's been done early!

We stopped, and everyone was feeling their way down the stairs and through the subway, which was pitch dark.  It was only a 3 car so I suppose the driver could see ok to close the doors.  Would the driver have phoned Gulag Didcot to report it and get it fixed?

They certainly should have reported it, and in the case of Pangbourne where steps and an underpass are involved it could well mean that trains are unable to call until repaired.