New Customer Information Systems

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Sorry, getting my letters mixed up - GSM-P I meant.

[Ollie]

But no network provider is usually the case....for example, go survey the Cotswold Line....

The GSM-P telephones in the cabs of Turbos use Vodafone as the network provider and there is virtually nowhere on the line of route, save the depths of Campden Tunnel, where at least one bar of signal strength isn't available.  I wouldn't be surprised if Vodafone had to make sure that was the case in order to win the contract, but what's to say that might not happen on other lines too?

Heard from a Vodafone worker that reason for good signal, particularly Paddington - Newbury is because of Vodafone workers travelling between the 2 sites.

[ChrisB]

This week's update....

Installations completed last week: CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) at Exeter Central, CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) at Weston-super-
Mare, PA^▸ (Public Address) at Par

SE installations planned for this week: CCTV, PA and CIS at Romsey, CIS and PA at Theale, Goring & Streatley, Dorking West, Bradford-on-Avon, Maidenhead, Paignton, and
PA at Dawlish

[Electric train]

Yesterday sitting at Maidenhead wait for the 16:40 Donkey to depart I was watching the Platform 5 CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) display giving the next train, 2nd and 3rd interleaved with a message about the disruption great  excellent    only problem who ever typed it in had the day as Thursday 28 June!!!!!!!  also the Donkey was delayed by 10 mins to allow a London and a Reading to connect but the CIS switched to next train 17:46 no hint that the 16:40 was in fact delayed.

I'll not knock the CIS too much as it is miles better that the old screens

By major gripe with the platform displays at Maidenhead especially on platform 3 & 4 these could really do with more screens along the platforms

[IndustryInsider]

By major gripe with the platform displays at Maidenhead especially on platform 3 & 4 these could really do with more screens along the platforms

Yes, I'm tempted to wait until the system is completely installed, but it looks like only one display is being provided on the two relief platforms.  There should be two, especially on the up relief, but this is the only location where I've thought the provision of screens a little stingy.  When you think that both Twyford and Slough Up platforms have two displays and Oxford a rather excessive four displays on its platform 1...

[ChrisB]

How many HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do you get?
And how many at Oxford or Slough?

I think that explains it....

[Electric train]

How many HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do you get?
And how many at Oxford or Slough?

I think that explains it....

Think I'll write to the Home Secretary and complain

[IndustryInsider]

How many HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) do you get?
And how many at Oxford or Slough?

I think that explains it....

No, I don't think that explains it.  There's no HST's booked on the Up Relief platform (with its two displays) at Slough as far as I know - which is shorter in length than the one at Maidenhead where you get one or two a day (I think), and certainly just as many 5/6 car Turbos.  I think if the one screen had been positioned more centrally it would not be such an issue but, where it is, it's very difficult to read from where the front of a 3-car Turbo stops.  Not ideal! 

As for Oxford, I think three would have been sufficient, but you won't find me arguing about over-provision!  And you never know, perhaps a second display will be appearing at Maidenhead in the next couple of days, but it looks like Telent have pretty much finished there now.

[johoare]

I agree with you there IndustryInsider.. I noticed that too.. Definitely need one more on platform 3 (but may be too late now)..

Yesterday afternoon the one indicator board on platform 3 was blank too.. Not good for a new system..

[Ollie]

When I went through Twyford today, and on my return, screens were all displaying "no service from this platform"

All announcements were manual.

Not ideal for first day of Henley Royal Regatta.

[BBM]

When I went through Twyford today, and on my return, screens were all displaying "no service from this platform"

All announcements were manual.

Not ideal for first day of Henley Royal Regatta.

They were still like that at 07.00 this morning!

[lordgoata]

When I went through Twyford today, and on my return, screens were all displaying "no service from this platform"

All announcements were manual.

Not ideal for first day of Henley Royal Regatta.

They were still like that at 07.00 this morning!

And at 08.00!

[lordgoata]

I agree with you there IndustryInsider.. I noticed that too.. Definitely need one more on platform 3 (but may be too late now)..

Yesterday afternoon the one indicator board on platform 3 was blank too.. Not good for a new system..

Its not just additional screens that are needed, they also need to address the diabolical positioning of the main "tv" screen on platform 3 as well. It's WAY to high up IMO^▸ (in my opinion), which means the angle it is at causes all of the white areas around the stairwell to reflect onto it - making it hard to read. But combine that with the direct sunlight you walk into as you travel up the stairs, it basically means its useless.

I don't remember the old screens suffering like that, but maybe I just hadn't looked at them for so long as they were always playing up anyway :-)

The displays sure look nice, but they are far from perfect in location. I really have to wonder who decides where to put these things, because it is definitely not people that use them!

[johoare]

More positively it's nice to have an indicator board back at both entrances to Maidenhead station now.. When they refurbished it a while back they removed the one at Shoppenhangers road.. And anyone who was running late didn't know which platform their train was running from (for example most London trains go from platform 4 but in the rush hour some go from platform 2.. and sometimes they swap them around to give us all some exercise going up and down the stairs  )

[Chris from Nailsea]

At Bristol Temple Meads this evening (at about 17:15) all of the screens were out of action: the new LED ones merely displayed a cheerful "First Great Western Information System" message - and the old green ones were just blank. 

Sterling work by the local public address announcer, and many staff with clipboards and worried expressions, frantically answering passenger queries, saved the day.