Gloucester - station, facilities, services, events & incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

A two year DTO will see the offender spend half the sentence in a Young Offenders Institution and half spent in the community under the supervision of a Youth Offending Team.

The community part of the sentence requires the offender to attend up to twice weekly meetings with their YOT Officer. Additional criteria may be added to the community part of the sentence, such as unpaid work ('Community Payback') or a requirement to attend education or vocational training. A curfew with electronic tagging may also be imposed.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From thisisgloucestershire:

Improvements will be made to Gloucester train station from next month. On May 16, First Great Western will be doing work to the platforms costing more than ^500,000. This will include new waiting rooms, changes to the ticket office and putting a covered platform at the site.

First Great Western spokesman John Ratchford said: "There are plans for a covered walkway from Platform 2 to 1 and new waiting rooms on both Platforms 1 and 4, as well as changes to the main ticket office. Train services will run as normal during this period and we do not anticipate any passengers being disrupted. The amount being spent on this project will be over ^500,000."

The changes to the station have been welcomed by Gloucester's MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Richard Graham. He met First Great Western's head of network strategy Russell Evans, communications director Sue Evans and Gloucester Station manager Lynn Edgington to discuss their planned improvement works at the station earlier this month.

Mr Graham said: "These changes should make a significant difference for Gloucester's train users, protecting passengers from the elements on all platforms. I'm also encouraged that work will start on May 16 and finish by July 29. Now we need to ensure that Network Rail work on covering the bridge to Platform 4 and installing a lift for the disabled is not delayed."

The plans for Gloucester Station are part of Network Rail's National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP).

[chuffed]

Well, it's almost done now.  New alumium and glass modular waiting rooms on Platforms 2 and  4 with fixed individual seats ... they are fine ...but oh dear what a monumental waste of money on the canopy linking the half mile walk between PLatforms 1 and 2 . Just a curvy roof, no sides and no use whatsoever if anything more than Beaufort Force 2 is blowing. Ticket office not yet finishead and new CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) still in their wrappings.

[ReWind]

To be pedantic, the long platform is actually 0.3740655 miles long!

( 602m according to Wikipedia )

[Chris from Nailsea]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) JourneyCheck:

Line problem: Gloucester to Bristol Parkway. Owing to signalling problems at Gloucester fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services between Gloucester and Bristol Parkway may be delayed or revised at short notice. Disruption is expected until 06:00 13/03.

Replacement road transport will operate for Monday 12th March between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester in both directions calling at Cam & Dursley and Yate.
Times for Bristol Parkway towards Gloucester.
10:00, 12:00 and 14:00
Times at Gloucester towards Bristol Parkway
10:45, 12:45 and 14:45
Times of departures are subject to road conditions.
Cross Country services are conveying passengers between Bristol Temple Meads and Cheltenham Spa in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for First Great Western rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Message Received: 12/03/2012 10:36

Line problem: Gloucester to Swindon. Owing to signalling problems at Gloucester fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Impact:
Train services between Gloucester and Swindon may be delayed or revised at short notice. Disruption is expected until 06:00 13/03.
Message Received: 12/03/2012 10:36

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) JourneyCheck:

Line problem: Gloucester to Bristol Parkway. Following signalling problems at Gloucester some lines are now open.

Train services between Gloucester and Bristol Parkway may be delayed by up to 20 mins or revised at short notice. Disruption is expected until 06:00 13/03.

Arrangements previously made with Cross Country to convey passengers have now been cancelled.
 
Arrangements previously made to convey passengers by replacement road transport have now been cancelled.

Message Received: 12/03/2012 16:26

Line problem: Gloucester to Swindon. Following signalling problems at Gloucester some lines are now open.

Train services between Gloucester and Swindon may be delayed by up to 10 mins or revised at short notice. Disruption is expected until 06:00 13/03.

Message Received: 12/03/2012 16:26

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Gloucester Citizen:

Vandals have decimated the underpass at Gloucester Railway Station in the wake of a much-needed spruce-up.

In November last year, council chiefs installed CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) cameras and the underpass was given a lick of paint and new lighting to deter gangs from gathering there.

Before the clean-up, graffiti was scrawled over every inch of the tunnel, and now scruffy tags have once again been sprayed over the paint.

In March 2003, the then seven-year-old Pollyanna McIntosh-Hurst launched a campaign to get the underpass cleaned up, collecting 276 signatures on a petition prompting an anonymous donor to give ^2,000 to clean it up. She devoted her half-term holiday to the campaign because she found the subway "scary".

Now, almost 10 years on, the 16 year-old, who lives in Lincolnshire, was gutted to hear the latest news. She said: "How awful! It seems like some people don't have anything better to do with their time. They need to find something to occupy themselves instead of vandalising public property. This subway is not just an eyesore for the residents of Gloucester, but also for the people that visit Gloucester."

Councillor Jeremy Hilton (Lib Dem, Kingsholm and Wotton) said: "It is considerably disappointing that, having had it cleaned, vandals have gone in and sprayed it with their graffiti. We need to nip it in the bud now before it gets out of hand."

Mr Hilton has informed Network Rail, the council and Gloucester Police of the problem, and CCTV footage is now being looked at in an attempt to identify the offenders.

"If somebody who uses the underpass knows when it appeared there, they should contact the authorities," added Mr Hilton. "The long term solution would be to use anti-graffiti paint in the underpass. We also need to make sure the cameras are being used properly and there are no blind spots."

The underpass leads from the station through to Great Western Road.

A spokesman for Gloucester Police said: "We have advised Network Rail to get rid of the graffiti as quickly as they can."

[bobm]

Unusual use of the word "decimated" .....

[JayMac]

Indeed. That's quite some vandalism if they've actually manage to remove or destroy a large percentage of the suibway. 

[TonyK]

In Roman times, it was every 10th soldier. Have they destroyed every 10th subway?

[grahame]

Another sad story - whichever set of details you choose to believe.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/story-18001649-detail/story.html?

A MAN was struck by a train this morning on the railway line between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester.

The train involved in the incident has been identified as the First Great Western 7.11am service from Gloucester to Swindon which passed Standish Junction at 7.22am.

http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/10193910._/?

"The driver of the 7.11am First Great Western Service from Gloucester to Swindon reported the body on the line at Standish junction this morning.

British Transport Police confirmed the person had not been hit by the train and the service had continued as normal"

[bobm]

From talking to staff at Swindon this morning the first version seems to be the correct one.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the British Transport Police press release:

Can you help identify man BTP wants to speak to after assault at Gloucester?

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man they wish to speak to in connection with an incident at Gloucester railway station.

Officers have today released CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) images of the man they believe will have information about the incident which took place at about 7.15pm on Saturday, 4 May.

PC Frank Hedley, investigating officer, said: ^A male passenger, who was with a woman and child, entered the station and ran along Platform 1 ahead of the woman and child to try to catch a train that was about to depart. When he arrived at the waiting train, he asked the train manager to hold the train until the woman and child arrived but the train manager informed him that the train had to depart straight away. The male became angry and verbally abusive towards the train manager. As the train was departing, the man spat in the train manager's face. The male then left the station with the woman and child.

^Behaviour such as this towards rail staff is disgusting and completely unacceptable. Enquiries have been ongoing to trace the man responsible but to no avail so far. I am now releasing CCTV images of a man who I think will have information which can assist. If you know who he is, please contact BTP.^

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In all calls, please quote incident reference B5/WWA of 24/05/13.

Edit note: Images now removed due to expiry of copyright permission. CfN

[ReWind]

4M36  Cardiff Wentloog - Daventry has derailed on the Up through at Gloucester Station.  All lines around the station are currently blocked.  The avoiding lines are still available.

Description of the incident;

"20:24 Gloucester signaller called to advise he has multiple track circuit failures in Gloucester Station and West End. He is unable to give any further updates at the moment as he is putting out an emergency call o the surrounding trains. 20:25 Block put on with Bristol PSB^▸ (Power Signal Box) and Midland TRC for all traffic booked to pass through Gloucester. 20:27 Gloucester signaller has now advised he thinks 4M36 may have derailed in the station. TRC has been asked to put a block on both ends of the station. 20:30 Block put on with Cardiff TRC 20:30 ISC has left messages for on call S&T^▸ (Signalling and Telegraph). P-Way have also been contacted, they are calling back with an ETA. 20:31 UM118, RC, RD (Keynes Xing) RE^▸ (Religious Education) (Over LC^▸ (Level Crossing)) RF RG (at 735 points) RH RK RL RN RP. All on the up. Driver is examinging train. 20:37 MC appointed ARM 20:35."

This will no doubt overflow into tomorrow mornings start up at Gloucester with displaced stock etc.

[bobm]

Apparently one wagon is resting against London Road bridge.