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Timmer
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« Reply #30 on: August 12, 2008, 18:02:32 » |
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Bath Spa will be closed at weekends during October and November commencing 11/12 October through to 15/16 November. This will not only affect trains calling at Bath Spa but also rail replacement buses will not be able to pick up/set down either. Details that are currently available can be found here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=2861(topic now linked to calendar - Lee Fletcher.) |
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« Last Edit: September 13, 2008, 22:38:53 by Lee Fletcher »
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Timmer
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« Reply #31 on: September 12, 2008, 19:19:02 » |
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According to BBC» news a row has broken out between Bath & North East Somerset Council and Network Rail over the timing of the upcoming engineering work taking place in the Bath area in October and November: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7612215.stm |
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Graz
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« Reply #32 on: September 12, 2008, 20:38:27 » |
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I think it'll be a good time, as Bath will still be a building site by then. Better to get these engineering works out the way before the Southgate buildings get finished!
To be honest, for a place like Bath, no time is ideal...
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Lee
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« Reply #33 on: September 12, 2008, 21:26:35 » |
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John R
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« Reply #34 on: September 12, 2008, 21:39:23 » |
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I'm puzzled as to what work is being carried out that is not only stopping trains calling, but preventing rail replacement buses getting anywhere near the station. Can anyone enlighten me?
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shadow
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« Reply #35 on: September 13, 2008, 02:17:32 » |
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I'd say it's first great western achully using a bit of sense for once,
Currently the centre of bath is not a good place to be, as we've got a major redevelopment of the main shopping area in the city, so they've changed the road layout along the main road the runs outside the train station, and if FGW▸ stopped coaches there, the whole city would most likely seize up due to the very stupid traffic lights outside the station...
but that's only me guessing
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Timmer
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« Reply #36 on: September 13, 2008, 07:32:52 » |
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I think the reason the council aren't happy about this is because the coach park in Bath is not huge with it being very busy at weekends...especially in the run up to Christmas. Many coaches come over from South Wales, why I don't know as Bath shopping isn't that good at the moment when you compare it with the excellent shopping facilities in Cardiff. I would say that the biggest concern will be on the two weekends when services aren't running on a Saturday either.
To run all the required RRPs to take passengers to Bristol, Chippenham, Westbury and Swindon involves a lot of coaches when the line through Bath is closed and it's pretty chaotic around Bath Spa station front entrance when this happened before building work started so it is a sensible decision by FGW▸ to move the buses away from the station and operate a shuttle service from the station to the bus pick up/drop off point elsewhere.
There are two areas of work taking place. One at Bathampton Junction and the other at a set of points outside Oldfield Park.
IMHO▸ there are two ways at Network Rail carrying out this work. You could have split the work and have trains running as they have done in the past between Bath-Bristol with RRPs operating from Bath to Swindon/Westbury whilst work takes place on the line east of Bath with all London services diverted via the Badminton line. For work needing to take place west of Bath, operate RRPs between Bath and Bristol with services for Wesbury/Portsmouth restarting at Bath also with a rail shuttle service between Bath-Swindon connecting with diverted Bristol-London services.
Or you do what Network Rail are doing and that is to totally close the line through Bath for a few weeks to carry out all the required work. The first option does mean there are some rail services to/from Bath but means more weekends where there is disruption. Take your pick really or in this case Network Rail have taken their pick to totally shut the line down which we now see across the country which I think suits the TOCs▸ much better rather than try and operate trains over diverted routes.
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shadow
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« Reply #37 on: September 13, 2008, 11:21:40 » |
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Bath is a popular city for tourists at weekends so we get coaches in every weekend, but we don't get swamped with loads of coaches until the bath Christmas market, and that doesn't start till the end of November. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see..
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Graz
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« Reply #38 on: September 13, 2008, 11:23:34 » |
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True...it's better that it finishes then than heading into the start of December!
And that's true Timmer, as diversions can have knock-on effects to other trains, maybe it's best the work gets 'out the way' as quick as possible.
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Tim
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« Reply #40 on: September 19, 2008, 15:45:09 » |
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the trains aren't stopping because the track is being renewed and they are also doing some embankment atabilisation work.
the replacement buses are not stopping at the station because platform lifts are being installed, and the new predestrain plaza between the station and the new bus station is being worked on.
it makes sense for them to do both bits of work together. the only problem I forsee is with ticketting facilities. i understand that the station ticket office will still be accessable on foot and open. However as teh coaches will leave from teh coach park a good 10 minuteis walk away it would be good if FGW▸ could make sure that there are adequate ticketing facilities at the coach park (including collection of pre-booked tickets)
It is a bit rich for the council to critise this work. i imagine that NR» is responsible for timetabling the engineering work, but the redevelopment of the station and adjacent land is all part of the Southgate redevelopment and the council is heavily involved in the planning and approval of that.
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Lee
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« Reply #43 on: October 09, 2008, 22:10:27 » |
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« Last Edit: October 11, 2008, 12:53:31 by Lee Fletcher »
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Timmer
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« Reply #44 on: October 14, 2008, 15:13:08 » |
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