Great Western Coffee Shop

A couple of weeks ago I was shocked to see that GWR had got the paintbrush out at Acton Main Line, repainting the lampposts grey with black stripes and the fences black.

Then this week they started at Southall! Again all the lampposts and fences were painted first, then the pillars of the canopy (again grey) and they painted inside the ticket hall (white with grey doors and skirting). They were yet to start on the staircase walls and the wooden ceilings, which have had badly peeling paint for years. And I do hope they fix the damaged and/or missing windows in the platform 2/3 staircase

Given that the stations are transferring to TfL soon, I was very surprised to see GWR actually painting things and had thought TfL would do them after takeover. Wonder if they only started painting because TfL wanted a certain standard on takeover? ;D ;D Certainly a lot of the stations have felt neglected for years, so it is good to see investment here. Wonder which ones will be next to see a paintbrush?

On a purely selfish basis, I was looking at Redland station this morning with kid bro who pointed out that it is still daubed out in the pre rebranding GWR ugly blue. A rebranding to a ( currently) less toxic image surely needs a little more effort.

If it was work done for GWR, rather than for TfL under some pre-entry agreement, it would probably be because the lease with Network Rail is terminating. The legal form is that GWR sell the "facility" in the stations direct to the new operator, but the station itself is leased so reverts to NR and a new lease is taken on by TfL/Crossrail.

I'd sooner they spent the money on employing people to work in the ticket offices at smaller stations - Taplow has been closed for months now due to "staff sickness" and the inability/unwillingness of GWR to provide staff.

Broadway station is getting a lick of paint, too!

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlBVG5XReU4/WgQREViFFHI/AAAAAAAACb0/WeXt5NJw5YEK1qPFleCFRBymhVVX0qlRQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20171108_122348.jpg)

Photo: GWSR (http://broadwaystationgroup.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/lets-get-plastered.html)

I wonder what TfL’s stance will be on ticket offices for the smaller stations like Taplow when Elizabeth Line services commence?  I would imagine the ticket office will close  sooner rather than later, but the station will be staffed for longer hours.  Also, will barriers be installed?

Returning the station in good order is probably a condition of the lease (normally is) its called dilapidations. GR probably have no choice.

Not sure TfL's clutches will reach as far as Taplow?

The Crossrail operator is required under the concession to take out a lease on Taplow station starting on 10th December 2017. (The same applies to all GWR stations except those where GWR main-line trains usually stop.) There will be the usual TfL "deep clean" before the opening date (December 2019).

They are not required to install ticket barriers, but will be installing some new ticket machines.

Initially, both the platforms and the ticket office must be staffed throughout operating hours. Alterations to ticket office hours are subject to approval by TfL (or RfL, the bit that granted the concession). Given the current proposals to close Overground ticket offices, this may have changed by December 2019. However, these are still (I think) stations on the national rail network, which may make a difference. 

Personally I’ll be surprised if there’s a ticket office there in five years time, but ‘visible’ staff presence throughout the day might be considered a price worth paying for that loss if it happens.  Access to other facilities such as toilets and waiting rooms would presumably improve as a result as they wouldn’t just be available in the morning.

Painting contractors on site at Thatcham today, and Peter in the Ticket Office confirmed the Station will be turning green shortly.

Is that being done by the team based on the District Line one station west of Stamford Brook?

Expert on the UK railway system as I am ( :P ), even I had to go away and think about that one.  :o

Ah, Turnham Green (had to look it up), very good  :D

A few weeks ago a strip light became unloose at West Drayton on platform 3 waiting room, just when i thought they were trying to bring a bit of Tate Modern into zone 6.

Thanks for posting details of that, erm, illuminating scene, ElectricLad - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum.  :)

Im suprised Newton Abbot wasn't done during the work to add the ticket barriers, they managed to put new fencing and signs around.  Hopefully they will get rid of that awful waiting room on Platform 2 and put a similar one like is on Platform 3 instead.

One of the contributory issue at Grenfell was that contractors had simply painted over the old paint during redecorations. The build up of flammable paint didn't help when the flames spread though the cavities from one window to the next.

Just like our block of flats - the windows and firedoors no longer close properly due to the layers of paint that have built up over the years.

I can well imagine that the contractors doing redecorations at GWR stations are doing the same thing - no cleaning of old paint surfaces, no rub downs, no treating the bare wood with preservative, no undercoat - just splashing new paint on top of old paint. Par for the course.

So how would that fit with my understanding that the TOCs need to leave the stations in their stewardship in at least the same condition as they found them? I fear you prediction will prove correct though.